#python books for beginers

[talonabraxas]

“I have united with the serpent of the beyond. I have accepted everything beyond into myself.” -C.G. Jung, The Red Book

The Caduceus - Magical Staff of Hermes Talon Abraxas

Through his sacrifice the Serpent-Saviour initiates a new winding on the spiral of the next dimension, marking the beginning of a New Age. He is like The Redeemer on the cross. Through him man pulls himself up at the moment of death into the lunar foundations of the next world. The Adept who touches the earth like the serpent's tail sacrifices his life to lift up the whole in his journey back to his Spiritual Seat. He is the Spiralled Serpent of the Tree of Life. "He is the Spiralled Serpent of the Tree of Life. The trunk of the Asvatta tree grows from heaven and descends at every Beginning from the two dark wings of the Swan of Life. The two Serpents, the ever-living and its illusion (spirit and matter) whose two heads grow from the one head between the wings, descend along the trunk, interlacing in close embrace. The two tails join on earth (the manifested universe) into one, and this is the great illusion."

Ophios and Ophiomorphos, Apollo and Python, Osiris and Typhon, Christos and the Serpent, are all convertible terms, all Logoi. "One is unintelligible without the other." They are spiritual saviours and physical regenerators; the former ensure immortality for the Divine Spirit and the latter give it through regeneration of the seed. The serpent or saviour has to die because he reveals the secret of the Immortal Ego. Human consciousness is related to the balancing and flow of subtle energy currents. The Sakti of Siva actively revolves around the Siva lingham, the neutral rod of the caduceus. The lotus centers in the body are pierced by the Sakti energy passing into progressively finer vibrations. The Buddha termed this 'the untying of all the knots in the inverse order.' Man approaches the Divine through spiral stages of initiation. Apollonius of Tyana spoke of the Second Hour when "by the duad, the zodiacal fish chant the praises of God; the fiery serpents entwine about the caduceus and the thunder becomes harmonious." This is one of twelve zodiacal steps of successive initiation, another being to study the balanced forces in nature and learn how harmony results from the analogy of contraries, "to know the Great Magical Agent and two-fold polarization of universal light."

[catt-nuevenor]

The Future

Time to establish what's going to happen from this point forwards.

The vast majority of you have been exceptionally patient this last year, and for that you have my deepest thanks. You've given me the time to not only write a book, but edit it, and send it off to literary agents, something I would have long given up on doing without the continued support of those who enjoy my writing.

Now that the book is off doing the rounds independently, it's time I got back to Myrk Mire.

Originally Myrk Mire was built in ChoiceScript, a scripting language created by the Choice of Games company. Choice of Games control what is done with their script, understandably, they own it. This does pose some restrictions. I can't, for example, release any paid material built using ChoiceScript unless it is directly through their publishing label. If I do publish under their label, I maintain IP or Intellectual Property Rights, however I also grant them the exclusive rights under perpetual license to publish the multiple choice game 'electronically'.

Source: Choice of Games.com

As you can see from the outline above, they do make exceptions for stories published in non-competing formats, and for sequels, prequels, and spin-offs. However, traditional publishing houses might require stricter control over IP, distribution, and exclusivity. It will only become more and more complicated as things progress, and being locked into a perpetual license agreement of any nature is not a decision to make lightly.

As some of you may be sensing from the tone of all this so far, I'm going to be moving Myrk Mire away from Choice of Games and ChoiceScript, and into a new medium/format.

After tinkering, and trialling with a few alternatives, I've decided to go with Renpy. Renpy, while largely used for visual novel style games and stories, provides a very workable framework for interactive fiction, and is an Open Source script, it isn't beholden to publishing contracts, licence cost, or exclusivity.

I'm not going to be diving into transferring Myrk Mire right away, it's a huge piece of writing, in an entirely different scripting language, and as previously stated, there are a lot of changes I want to implement with the cast. Instead, I'm creating a trial story: One Háḟest Day. My Patrons have been aware of all this for about a month or so, and have already seen some previews.

One Háḟest Day takes place in Aldmirham before the events of Myrk Mire, around the time the Main Character and the Wanderers first arrived in town. The reader will have the choice to follow one of the romanceable characters through a single day, with opportunities to explore their lives and relationships before the Main Character and Child come along. I hope it will provide a proving ground for the changes that previously caused debate, and an opportunity for people to try out the new format and interface.

My plan is to distribute One Háḟest Day through Itch.io, working with their early access framework and voluntary payments for such as soon as one of the character routes is ready to play from beginning to end, updating regularly with the other characters as they too are completed, and with additional features as required. Once the full game is complete, I will release a separate full build with a set minimum price that can be discussed with the community as we move forwards.

At the second, I'm aiming for a web hosted format and a desktop/laptop downloadable format, with phone compatibility to come later down the line once things are stable.

I will post production updates and info when I can to tumblr, though a lot of what I'm doing now is very python coding heavy, so perhaps not that interesting?

I've included some screenshots below of very early development, featuring a Character Log and Word Log that I hope will allow readers to more easily navigate the story. I'm toying with the idea of having a Mysteries Log as well that will keep track of snippets of information gleaned from each character's route, but that can be a tinkering feature for now.

Let me know your thoughts, concerns, or excitement, though do keep all messages objective and polite.

[peggy-sue-reads-a-book]

Good afternoon, my precious lambs. Three years ago, I began a Patrochilles fic, crashed and burned in my personal life, and am pleased to announce that I have returned to the project. It mattered to me.

I give you:

The Prisoner of Troy

1905wc | mlm | patrochilles | Trojan war AU | angst | shameless melodrama | all hurt no comfort | alternate ending

Summary: beginning after Patroclus’ battle/ the Iliad book 16. The Achaean campaign returns home to a frantic Achilles. This time, the battle takes an unfamiliar turn …

Chapter 1

The Campaign

He did not know why his mother took the form of a sea monster around others. Probably just to be obtuse. In fact, she was graceful, glossy-haired like a Ottoman warhorse, fair as new milk. But she did not like to garner attraction. In the presence of nearly anyway, she made herself stretched and distorted. Fish’s teeth. A jawline to gut a braver man that he. Other days she was especially lovely. Water is amorphous like that.

Achilles could not decide if he was relieved or irritated to see his just now, looking her best as though she were going to ask for something.

. “Six hours,” he grumbled, aware of his surly tone, “I wish you had gone with them.”

“With him,” she corrected, mocking, “Last I checked, the rest of your army can get fucked. Your father would be so disappointed.”

“And you care?” he bit, jerking around to face her. Her eyes were not black but deepest pine. She looked at him as in childhood, ready to comfort. But the lady Thetis was never a nurturer. Something was wrong.

Achilles gritted his teeth, flinching away. It hurt her visibly.

“Mother, if you let him come to harm—”

“If I let him?”

Her eyes darken, narrow. An eel poised to strike.

And that was when Achilles’ heart droped ten feet. His blood roared.

“He’s hurt?” The incredulity in his own voice made him feel stupid and resentful. He looked every direction, ears suddenly at twice their sensitivity. Any sound. Any sense at all. But there was only the empty battle encampment. The murmur of girls, ignoring him in their tent. Slaves and grunt-workers who passed him as if invisible. He was not well liked these days.

“I see you are not a favorite,” she says, “Achilles.”

His name: pain of the people.

“It’s unwise, what you’ve done. If you think a despised man earns favor with—”

“Gods be damned!” he shouted. It was foolish of him. “Can’t you think about anything else? Where’s my—” Tears burned his eyes and nose with whatever he had not said. “Mother, where’s Pat?”

“Pat.” She scoffed at the nickname. It brought up every childish urge he’d ever had to scream at her right there and then.

He shoved paster her, pushing the flap of the women’s tent open, barking for any of them to follow, to help him arm.

“Why?”

A girl barely twenty lifts her head.

Their collective resent settled on him like a coiling python.

A young woman at a loom was looking at him seriously. He met her gaze like a challenge. So, the lover they shared was slowly growing to prefer her. So, she was beautiful. Gentle. Female. The pain was immeasurable and the fact that it came up now stung him with shame. It was all they ever saw in him. The selfishness.

“Patroclus is hurt,” he said, attempting the curtness of a prince, “I’m going.”

Her hand flew to her mouth in tenderness and terror all at once. But the look in her eyes was of pure reproach. She followed him from the tent on the unspoken order that she was to help him to his armor. When he opened his mouth to thank her, she hissed, “I do not want you to speak.”

Briseis worked quickly, but her hands are unused to buckles and bronze. Achilles clenched his teeth against the rockslide harsh words. Couldn’t she go any faster? He thought of his lover, his beautiful boy, a medic. An untrained soldier in armor not fitted to him, a sword balanced for himself alone. What was I thinking?

Competing answers:

I was not

and softer,

of myself.

Briseis kept her face lowered like a slave, but not enough to hide the flush of loathing in her cheeks.

“If Hector kills you,” she said, shoulders trembling, “I will not be sorry. I’ve said it before. I mean it. And if I had the power, I would mean it like a curse.”

How dare she. He owned her, bought with his own honor and dignity no less. And for what? Because Patroclus begged to have her back? Patroclus, whom he could refuse nothing? Who knew it and still chose here? He raised his hand to strike her. Then lowered it, hating himself for the envy that raced through his mind.

“I- I—” Whatever he could say to apologize, there was no time.

“You, what?” she goaded, adjusting the bracer on his right arm.

“Listen to me very carefully,” he said hoarsely, “If this is the last time you see me, if … Briseis, I don’t know what has happened. But I can’t live much longer, you know that. We all do. Don’t let him … follow me. Do whatever you have to.”

“Sir, I don’t know--

“I mean anything, Briseis. Say fucking anything. Make him hate me as you do, if that what it takes. Say, I took you to be to punish him. Your courses are late. Get him to marry you. Leave Troy. Make him go.”

“I bleed now,” she said bitterly.

“Then lie!” he yelled, cowing her, “I’m telling you to save him.”

“He won’t believe it,” she says softly.

“He trusts you. Figure it out,” he snarled, stomping out of the tent. “I have to go.”

He’d murder Hector. It wouldn’t be an act of war anymore, but the sin of his bare hands.

The creek of chariot wheels. Horses’ crying sharp and panicked. A six-hour campaign. What could have happened? But they were returning now. His dearest one would be with them. No matter what it was, he would mend it himself. He wouldn’t leave him. Not once. Not if Troy burned around them. Tears streamed from Achilles’ eyes as he sprinted to meet the returning army. They move slowly – he sees a shrouded body hefted between Odysseus and Diomedes. Their faces are creased, exchanging heavy glances. Someone of importance, he supposes. This does not matter. Not now. Achilles searches the company, escalating from fevered to frantic.

Where is he? His mind raced harder than his feet with endearments he would pour over Patroclus once they were together. His treasure, his darling, heart of his heart.

Achilles would beat to death whoever had failed to make all haste to return his lover.

A horrible thought: the walls. An image, as if from a remembered dream. Of the pair of them, Patroclus had always been more adept at climbing trees.

And on Scyros – he had been so upset. Too upset to notice his feet cut to shreds when he had scaled that cliff to what – to howl Thetis into being?

No.

Achilles dove into the crowd, elbowing past his own men, knocking them into the dirt without looking. He shoved soldier after soldier aside. If he fell. If his skull or neck were broken. Oh, Pat, sweetheart, hold on. He would have caught himself, known to tuck his chin and roll, but there would be broken bones. Hold on, I’m coming. His back, perhaps, or both arms. Both femurs, even. That would explain why he had been carried so slowly. Achilles shouted, howled his name.

“Patroclus!”

When there was no response, he shouted for their charioteer: “Automedon!”

Patroclus must have been knocked unconscious by a fall like that. If there was no way for him to hear Achilles’ voice, for him to know he was safe, that Achilles would fix everything-- Please, hear me, can’t you hear me, Pat, why can’t you hear me?

“Pat!”

What was the word Patroclus had used again in their quarrel?

Hubris.

Achilles nearly crashed into Odysseus. He would have upset both counselors and their burden had Odysseus not stopped him with a firm hand, flat to his chest. A fatherly gesture. The prince of Ithaca looked in his eyes, stern, unintimidated. And –

My gods, he pities me. He motherfucking pities me.

Achilles stops in his tracks. The blood drains from his face as his eyes lock onto the shrouded form.

“Your Grace.” Automedon’s voice is blurred as if by a sudden strong wind. Achilles screams, and screams, and screams, pivoting to strike the boy in the face. The blow knocks him to the earth with a squealing cry. The crunch of a wrist breaking. Shame laces its way through Achilles’ rage. Reproachful eyes – he does not know whose—as a larger man helps the injured boy up, dragging him into the throng where he will be hidden.

When he raises his fist again, Diomedes catches it with a face full of scorn.

“Enough.”

Odysseus raises and deepens his voice at once. It is a king’s voice.

“You disgrace yourself and him, prince,” Odysseus says with cold authority.

“He’s mine,” rasps Achilles, his face contorting as he stares at the body, just barred from his reach, “My companion. My right.” Two more have him by his other arm. He does not look to see their faces.

“I think not.”

“He’s mine!” The scream that tears across the company was at once terrifying and childlike, chilling as a falcon’s cry.

The prince of Ithaca lifts his chin, arms folded calmly.

With an inhuman roar, Achilles wrenches himself from the other men. Odysseus steps deftly out of his way as a performer from a charging bull. It occurs to Achilles that he is being mocked but it does not matter. All that matters is to reach him. To see punishment for those who mistook Patroclus for dead. For dragging him home shrouded when he needed immediate medicine, when it was the right of Achilles alone to care for him. They would all be flogged within an inch of their lives. Their women with them. He tore off his helmet, scraping his knees raw in the sand.

“I’m here,” he cried, voice breaking with tears. “Patroclus—my precious boy. Please, can’t you hear me?”

Everyone could hear him in the naked, awful silence that followed.

“Pat, it’s me. Pat, pat, please. Please, it’s alright. Pat, I’m here. Don’t leave me, Pat, don’t leave me. Don’t leave me, I’ll die,” he sobbed, lifting the body into his lap. He tore the cloth away from its face. Red hair, dulled with grey spills across his legs.

There is quiet. The crowd has stilled, backed away. Odysseys and Diomedes look at one another again, this time with held breath. Men began to part to clear a path.

A grim voice rumbles, close now.

“Faggot,” it sneers.

Agamemnon approaches, one foot at a time. Heavy, yet noiseless. A tiger stalking. Diomedes snaps to attention, leaping on the opportunity to clarify loyalties.

“You dare mewl over body of the king?” It shakes with rage. Not like a child but like an earthquake. “You simpering, insolent pervert.”

Tentative laughter rustles through the army. Achilles was frozen where he knelt. His face that of a dumbstruck little boy.

“Quiet!” bellowed the general. Then, to Achilles. “Prince of Pthia. You shame my brother with this . . . display. And so twice disgrace me. Disgusting. You’ll leave before I kick your teeth in.”

Achilles moves to his feet, slow and trembling, anemic with shock.

“Go!” Agamemnon stands over his brother, his shout carring down the beach. “Men of Sparta! Your king is dead at Hector’s hands because Pthia would rather cower and fuck each other than hold to their countrymen. And will they pay in blood? Will they pay in every last spoil they’ve won?”

Shouts of yes, and yes, and yes.

Menelaus is dead.

Hector had killed him.

As Achilles darts through the crowd as a deer weaving past hounds he asks endlessly:

but where is Patroclus?

@johaerys-writes you’ve read this before and now it’s … uh … better

[metal-autistic-coven]

I feel like we're not talking enough about the implication that George and Harold are canonically Monty Python fans

Image description: first image is a panel from dog man big Jim begins where the character grampa gets squished by a big foot reminiscent of the one from the intro of Monty python. Second image is the notes and fun facts from the same book, which states that "the foot on page 49 is a tribute to the British comedy group Monty python." This statement is underlined in red to help it stand out from some of the other facts, like "This story was inspired by a phenomenon known as the placebo effect, in which a person's beliefs can inspire positive changes. These positive changes can occur even if the beliefs are erroneous or unfounded." And "The Quote on page 58 ("For we are the music makers... and we are the dreamers of dreams.") is based on the 1873 poem "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaughnessy." End image description

[frostironfudge]

Labyrinth - Bucky Barnes - Epilogue

Summary: labyrinth (noun), a complicated set of paths and passages, through which it is difficult to find your way. Bucky and You would do anything for Steve and Wanda, your respective best friends. In an attempt to avoid a tradition Steve and Wanda come up with a lie involving their best friends.  A lie, that involves building a labyrinth. Bucky and You begin to build but will you two find your way out or be caught in it?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader, (Modern AU)

Word Count: 7.3 k || Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Warnings: chapter contains 18+ moments, minors DNI, fluff, sm/ut, dir/ty talk, p in v, hot bucky, swearing, soft bucky, protective bucky, feels, family drama, bucky is a whole green forest, bucky is the cutest, animal adoption, feels, family issues, tox/ic family dynamics.

Main Masterlist || AO3 || Fic Masterlist ||

“Allow me to understand this,” The tone carries disappointment and anger in differing proportions.

Bucky bites the inside of his cheek, for once his composure is not maintained. The nerves that wrap around him as if a python is going for the slow kill. He nods.

“You lied to all of us.” Yusuf Khan stares at his stellar employee. An employee he began to view as family after the night they all interacted.

Bucky wants to give a reason, explain it all but he chooses to say the one worded truth, “Yes.”

Yusuf contemplates, tapping on his desk, “And your fiancé?”

“She’s my girlfriend now.” He responds, eyes moving between the tapping digits of his boss and his own feet.

“Is it because you wanted to get in my good books?” Yusuf is on the brink of disappointment.

“No, it is a long story actually… Steve Rogers, my best friend–,”

“Steve Rogers the acquisition lawyer?”

“Yes, well about several months ago he proposed to his long time girlfriend and well, it um, it sounds really stupid to my own ears…” Bucky runs a hand over his jaw, moving up to tuck his stray strands of hair back into place.

“I’ve got time, sit.” Yusuf gestures to the chair. 

Bucky takes a seat and begins to recount the events that began in the diner all those months ago. 

“So it was an elaborate plan to get the two of you buttheads–,”

“Kamala.” Muneeba chastises her daughter.

“It wasn’t even a bad word!” The youngest Khan complained only to sigh at her mother’s stern expression.

“Yes, it was their elaborate plan to make us,” 

‘Buttheads’ Kamala mouths and you nod, she grins.

“To make us realise and act upon our buried feelings over the unresolved miscommunication.” You explain, Bucky returns with your plate filled with appetisers. 

“They played us.” He shakes his head, still not understanding how he did not catch onto the lies. You pat his knee to keep him from getting grumpy about it. 

Though it was adorable when he started getting a little pout on his lips. You kept that little information to yourself.

“Thank you for allowing us back into your home.” Bucky adds, even though the remainder of the staff wasn’t there that night. Yusuf had requested Bucky and you to join the Khans for dinner. 

Once they all heard what exactly was the history the two of you shared, the lie or as Muneeba put it, ‘The two of you got your chance to fall in love again.’

You liked that point of view. 

Sharing a glance with Bucky observing as his shoulders did not have the slight droop which indicated his distress over telling the full truth. It made you happy he wasn’t dismissed or treated coldly as one of his co-worker had experienced.

The dinner passed by in a blur of laughter and happy memories. A part of you glad you had the experience and opportunity to interact with a family as warm as the Khans. Tayesha and you had taken an immediate liking to each other, talking much more in depth than the opportunity previously provided. 

Dessert was fast approaching you had brought over cookies, the dinner invite came at the very last minute amongst the other orders you were fulfilling. Muneeba suggested making tea but Yusuf sweetly kissed the back of her palm, called her Jaan (life) and told her the men would do it. 

Drawing a very reluctant Aamir away from a game of Monopoly Deal he was winning against his sister, much to her delight. Yusuf nodded towards Bucky to follow them into the kitchen.

“You know, the reason you are welcome back here is because of your honesty.” Yusuf explained as he brought out the containers of ingredients. Bucky watched as Aamir drew measurements based on feeling; a contrast to the meticulous way he had observed you measure. 

“I didn’t want to keep it from you, it's just that day in front of everyone I got cornered and well…” 

Yusuf nods, “You couldn’t damage control as much as you preferred and I put you in a tight spot.” 

“Sort of and I didn’t want to disappoint you. It would be true had Sunshine and I—I mean had Y/N and I gotten together earlier.” 

“Always refer to them by their nicknames; they love it.” Yusuf advises with a smile. 

“And they love you more for it.” Aamir brings out the tea cups. 

Bucky grins then, “I’ve always thought of her as Sunshine.”

“It shows how she brightens your life my dear boy.” Yusuf then says a word in Arabic, “We say it when we do not want the evil eye to befall on anything.” 

“I see.” Bucky smiles, “Thank you, I didn’t think I’d find more people to consider family.” 

Aamir grins at him, “The first time dad mentioned you, I knew you’d become his little protégé.” 

Yusuf chuckles, “Well, you know I have a healthy gut.” 

Aamir groans, “Not that joke again.” Exasperatedly running his palms down his face. 

Bucky laughs, “Your gut is healthy so your feelings are all right?” 

“Precisely.” Yusuf winks at him. 

The tea is strained into the cups, Bucky holds the biscuit box and the cookie box as they re-enter. There are photo albums opened across the coffee table. 

You’re sitting cross legged on the floor with Kamala as she shows you the Khan family through history. Bucky observes as you delicately trace your fingers over the photographs. When you look up at him, your smile doesn’t reach your eyes. 

He frowns, Muneeba distracts the two of you by asking about future plans. 

It has been two weeks and you find yourself opening the chat with Bucky scrolling to the shared media page and staring at the picture with the Khans. All seven of you squished onto the couch. The camera set on a tripod, you leaning against Bucky because the two of you were balancing on the armrest. 

The same as Tayesha and Aamir on the other side. You trace the picture yet again and shut the message thread. Your heart cautions you yet again from saving the picture, the permanence of family was not a privilege awarded to you. 

Alpine brushes herself across your ankles. You pick her up and pepper her cute squish-able face with kisses. She chirps in happy approval till she has had her fill and then leaps out of your arms. Bucky emerges from his post workout shower, finding you in the kitchen absentmindedly stirring the saucepan. 

“Are you going to tell me?” He broached the subject the very night of the dinner as the two of you drove back home.  

You declined him then, put on a front that he saw right through but didn’t mention. He let you stew in your mind because you weren’t willing to see the hand he extended towards you. Into the void that was labelled ‘crappy family’ but you weren’t willing to be brought out. 

Bucky has had enough of you drowning yourself in sadness. He can taste it on your lips. He can feel the cracks on you deepen when he holds you close. He’s had enough of you letting this eat at yourself. 

“Soare, I’ve let you take your time with this but you’re falling into a deep pit and I do not know if I will be able to pull you out. So I’m willing to go down with you, so I can help you climb back out.” Bucky steps closer, shutting off the stove and turning you to face him, palm cupping your cheek. “Let me in, please.” 

You meet the beautiful eyes that anchor you. 

Concern and worry brimming in them as he looks into your eyes, knowing there is a sadness looming. Knowing he wants to protect you. You grab at his arms, blinking but the tears form. Your mind, body, heart and soul know he is your safe space. 

He is your everything. 

The one you can be authentically yourself and he will love you. 

He still held onto you when he thought the worst of you. 

You still held onto him when you thought the worst of him.

Bucky feels the same way about you, the love you share is unconditional. Allowing each other to grow individually and together. 

“Sunshine, you gotta talk to me sweet girl,” He gnaws at his bottom lip watching you. 

Your hands rest on his chest and the damned dam breaks. Your hands move around his neck pressing yourself to him and you begin to cry. 

Bucky’s warmth surrounds you and he pulls you closer. Arm around your waist and the other holding your head, keeping you pressed to the crook of his neck. 

Sobs wrack your body, he doesn’t hush you, the soft movements only encourage you and allow you to know that he is here. He is here for you and you should let it all out. 

“My strong Sunshine, let it all out okay? We can fall apart in front of each other okay? Such a strong girl, my sweet Sunshine.” He whispers through your breakdown. 

When your sobs turn to sniffles and he presses the cool water bottle into your palms, helps you drink it. Bucky wipes away the tear stains, kissing your entire face. 

“You okay Sunshine? You wanna head to bed?” He questions and you shake your head with a sniffle. 

“Take your time baby.” He encourages, rubbing his warm and loving palm along your back. 

“It's just, I miss my family? Being around the Khans that night? Kamala showed me the pictures. I didn’t think I’d be sad for this long, I’m so sorry, I know you’re trying to help. I just thought I could handle this alone. That I’d get over it. I always have but, I, they accepted you back and me after we made mistakes and hurt them and, and Bucky that is what family does…. Why couldn’t mine do the same? Was I that bad? Am I that irredeemable?” You blurt out, gingerly taking more sips as he brings the bottle to your lips again. 

“Sunshine, you haven’t committed any mistakes ever that are non forgive-able. Your family has treated you like crap. Basing your worth—making you think and believe that your worth is tied to a fucking douchebag? Just for their gain and access to the guy’s bank account by extension? God, I want to punch your brother so bad.” His hands brush away your tears, 

“Look, baby, you can handle things alone, sometimes which is most of the time but you should not have to, I learned this pretty fucking late too. You have a support system in place. Wanda, Steve, their parents, Becca, my parents, and me. You can lean on us whenever you want, okay? We’ll catch you.” He nudges your jaw with his nose. It makes you smile.

Bucky’s heart eases as he watches your eyes light up after days of dark clouds.

“Pietro too…” You giggle at his responding growl. 

“Look, it isn’t wrong to want your family on that list, okay? If you want to mend your relationship with them I’ll drive you over myself and stay with you. You want privacy? I’ll wear noise cancelling headphones and sit in the kitchen. You want Wanda there? Steve? Becca? Even fucking Pietro will turn up for you in support okay?” He makes you look up at him, “You say the word, my love, Soare mi, I’ll make whatever you want happen. If it is in my capacity of bringing to fruition, I’ll fucking bring down the sun to worship at your feet, Sunshine.” He promises. 

You cup his cheeks, thumbs grazing over his stubble, “I love you so much. You all in my life, you’re enough okay?” Guilt eats at you for wanting more than what you have for being greedy. 

“I know we are but there’s nothing wrong with wanting more.” Bucky says, reading your mind almost, “You think about it, but don’t let it make you turtle all the way down. I need my girl to shine.” 

Your eyes mist again, kissing him before being tucked against the crook of his neck again. 

A few more days later Bucky drives you across the city towards the neighbourhood where your family lived. The hand rest under your intertwined palms is warm in the sun belting down overhead. It’s an unseasonably hot day. Good enough to blame the sweat pooling at the nape of your neck upon it. 

Ever so often Bucky raises your hand and kisses the back of it. You needed this, you wanted it and you were prepared in case things go south to leave them be in the past they wanted to remain in. Bucky was in correspondence with Steve and Wanda on a separate chat. The three ready to take over for you in case you needed to just be though they were rooting for a happier outcome. For your sake only. 

Walking up the pathway of the house is bittersweet and nostalgic. The house is in good enough condition. Lawn mowed and kept in compliance with the HOA. 

Your grip on Bucky’s arm tightens, “You’re the second man they will be meeting.” You try to lighten the conversation. 

“Well they’ll know you got it right this time.” He chuckles, heart twisting as you laugh but the nerves begin to claw at you. 

He wonders if he could shield you from this the way he shielded you from the cold. He wraps an arm around you. You’re tucked right against him. Your head rests right at the spot of his tattoo dedicated to you.

The doorbell rings. 

There is shuffling and a bit of yelling. A common occurrence. 

Your brother opens the door, his eyes move to Bucky and then to the arm at your hip. Then at you, “This your trade in for the rich fucker? This is—,”

“He is an upgrade from the cheater.” You cut him off, “Are mom and dad home? I wanted to talk as well as introduce James.” You look up at your man, Bucky squeezes your side in encouragement. 

Your brother scowls and then pads inside, from the doorway you see him gesture to come into the hall. Your mom and dad sit on the couch. He takes the chair that leaves the smaller loveseat open for the two of you. 

The five of you sit in silence for a few minutes, Bucky observing them and they observe Bucky. He watches as they take in the kind of clothes he wears, the brand of his watch already caught their eyes. He wonders if this is why you were worried that they would judge him. 

Your eyes however are all over the old home you had. The wall with your heights marked. The smear of nail paint they could never get out from one of the walls. The ceiling that was the floor of your room. 

“So,” Your dad begins, “This is?” He vaguely gestures towards Bucky. 

“Wait a minute. You, you’re fucking married!” Your brother points to the wedding bands.

“Are you serious? Y/N, fuck I had hope you’d marry the rich dude. God, do you never think about the benefit of this family?” 

“Do you ever let her speak or do you all always walk all over her?” Bucky seethes at the three of them. 

“Who the hell are you? To talk to us in this manner.”

“James Barnes—,”

“That scholarship idiot who she was pining behind? So pathetic. Mom, remember I told you about finding her one day crying over him that weekend she came back?” Your brother says looking at your mom who looks at you with disappointment. 

“Sweetie, don’t you think about us? Our needs?” Her tone may be soft but her words are fully inducing a guilt trip you do not deserve. 

“Are you fucking—,” Bucky shuts up when you squeeze his thigh. 

“I’m running my baking business now—,”

“There goes the money, do only I have to do the work around here?” Your brother groans. 

“It’s doing well enough, I thought we could mend things after the horrible way I was treated.” 

“You?” Your dad scoffs. 

Your mom snorts, “If anything you got us into this mess and now you want to sell Betty Crocker with your name on it.” 

Bucky can’t take this anymore, half a mind to chew them out, your squeezing hand keeps him quiet. He stays quiet for you. Anger ebbing into a simmer. 

He knows where your brother worked. The boss is an old friend of Bucky’s dad. 

Small world. 

One little word and this man would be put on the midnight shift. 

“As I was saying, I came here to mend things. Clearly you have no place in my present or future. Also you do not get to disrespect the man I love. So what if he had scholarships? That means he had more brain cells than you three combined to get a degree.” You stand. 

Bucky stands with you, “I’m proud of him. I stand by him and he stands by me. He told me he would be there for me today so I wouldn’t have to endure the horrible crap you all say alone.” 

“Boo hoo you weren’t abused.” Your mom waves off looking at you without an ounce of guilt. 

“Abuse isn’t always physical. Neglect isn’t always physical. You all made me emotionally broken.“ You bite your cheek, you can’t cry. 

You won’t cry. 

“Finances aren’t ever the responsibility of a child. I went through it myself. It isn’t for us to grow the fuck up earlier than required because you as parents, failed miserably.” Bucky adds, squeezing your hand, “She did her best given she had to be an adult before she was required to be. When you,” he points to your mom and brother, “Were supposed to be adults. Not her all alone.” 

“Exactly, you made me grow up and then treated me as if I was a tantrum throwing child. When you all were the childish ones.” You point at all of them, “I did my best. With what I had, I did my best.” 

They all stare at you, baffled at you calling them out. They clearly weren’t ready to admit their faults. Nor were they prepared for civilised conversation. Your brother stares into his phone and then widens his eyes, “You drove Beck into a loss?” He asks Bucky.

Bucky rolls his eyes, “Is that all you people care—,”

“That means he got more than that cheater.” Your dad adds cutting him off.

You scoff, “Fucking rich.” You grab Bucky’s hand leading him towards the door. 

He follows while glaring at all of them as they watch on and then sputter into action.

“He has an expensive car too,” Your brother groans,

“You couldn’t be respectful?” Your mom swats the back of his head.

Bucky shuts your door, before rounding the car to the driver’s side. He keeps the door ajar so you can catch the conversation, “Do not expect to get anything from her. I’m going to make sure you cannot touch a penny she has to her name.”

“We’ll claim as family once she’s married, she has nothing to her name but a failing business.” Your dad informs him walking with his walker to the driveway.

Bucky settles into the car, he gives you a once over. You watch a calm demeanour take over him and his next words are in a voice you recognise he uses at work, “You seem to be curious people. I’ll tell you what, come after her. No seriously come after her and see where you end up. This cute three bedroom is spacious right?”

The three of them nod, still thinking they have a shot at something better. 

“Try and do anything remotely stress-inducing to my girl, even if it's a damn Christmas card. I’ll shove you three into a matchbox.” He rolls up the window and pulls out of the driveway. Exhaling loudly when the house is out of view.

You reach over, holding onto his hand, “Thank you.” 

“You need not thank me, Sunshine.” He kisses your hand. 

You’re too lost in your thoughts, the car stops and you blink. Bucky opens your door just as the door to Wanda and Steve’s home opens as well. The two stand at the door.

“Thought you’d need your family tonight.” He smiles as you look at him.

“We’ve got wine, take out, I’ve printed pictures of your brother to be a dart board.” Wanda pulls you into a hug, “Steve has the best thing though.” 

“I’ve checked the law, multiple times. They really can’t come after you. You’re above eighteen. In the event you do want to protect future and current assets we can put them into a trust.” Steve says, “But we can discuss this later on in depth for now, how about a hug and I ordered your favourite take out. Also, Wanda’s lined up your comfort show.”

You look at all three of them, heart bursting at the seams for all the love they have to offer you. You open your arms, all three, engulf you in a group hug. Bucky and Steve laugh when Wanda grumbles about them being giants.

Months further pass. 

A blur of date nights, date days. 

A haze of falling even more in love with James Barnes. 

The pink rivulet runs along his jaw, you lick your lips as his thumb prevents the further fall of the strawberry juice.

“You’re right, I should not eat these laying down.” Bucky chuckles, the sound of him sucking his thumb has your ears echoing your heartbeat. This man should be aware of what he does to you. You hope he does.

Reverting your gaze back to the book at hand, you try not to let your thoughts get side tracked. Bucky had planned this picnic date, his only request was your strawberry tarts and chocolate covered strawberries. Hence the devil incarnate side-tracking juice.

He sits up bemused looking down at you, you still remain laying, book open but the words are a blur.

“Hi, Sunshine.” Bucky greets, leaning over, lips brushing against your own.

“Hi Puffin.” You kiss him, he smiles against your lips, hand gently grasping the book from your hands. He pulls away slightly, finding the bookmark and placing it before shutting the book and returning to your lips.

The taste of chocolate and strawberry explodes upon your tongue. You cup his cheek, your left hand moves to his hair, undoing his bun is one of your favourite moments. A small laugh escapes between the two of you as his strands tickle your cheek.

Somewhere his phone alarm rings and you huff, he kisses your cheek, making you sit up, across his lap. 

“Sunset’s about to start, and I brought you here for that.” He explains yet again.

“Well you knew you would get horny hence the cockblock alarm.” Nipping at his jaw, you laugh as his hands tickle at your sides.

“Pay attention to the view, Sunshine.” He chastises with a grin of his own.

“I am, Mr. Barnes. You are a delectable view.” You coo as he blushes at your words and rolls his eyes.

Shaking his head, he grabs your jaw to make you face the view. The colours begin to change, dusk creeping into daylight. Bucky had found this view after driving around for the better part of his shitty day years ago.

He stayed there, only heading down the hill to pick up food from a burger place nearby, returning to watch the sunset. At first it was a shitty day relieving place, slowly it turned into a weekly thing. Now, he’d brought you here.

“It’s beautiful.” The colours change to pink and orange, you’re tucked right against him. Bucky drapes his jacket over you. Chin resting on your head after placing a soft peck. 

The two of you watch the sunset, his arms tighten around you. Your hands rest above his, “How did you come across this place? Thank you for sharing it with me.” 

“You know, how Dr. Cho said we need to tell each other about how we processed ‘the event’?” He keeps his gaze on the darkening sky.

You swallow, nodding allowing him the space to speak.

“I found this place in the aftermath, at first it was mostly to escape crappy days. I was here often when the two of us interacted. You know, sort of snide comments, glares, and disdain.” He sighs, shoulders slumping, “Then I came here on a night I did something that made me question things. Ultimately I realised the thing I did was a happy one.” 

The silence engulfs the two of you, the sounds of people packing their own picnics begins as night completely takes over. Solar lamps flicker on as pathway guides.

“What was it that you did?” You ask, playing with the ring on his finger.

Bucky says nothing, only smiles but you can’t see it. 

The proof of what he did is framed in your home in the name of Jamesetta Barnette. He would tell you eventually. The perfect moment was already handpicked.

“Bucky?” You look up, he brushes his knuckles over your cheek.

“I’ll tell you soon enough.” He promises, resting his forehead against yours. 

“It made you happy, that’s enough for me to be happy about as well.” Your eyes close, “I love you.” 

“I love you, my Sunshine.” 

The very bookstore café that Bucky and you frequent now houses your baked mini cakes and other dessert items. Your little logo plaque rests proudly above the display. A full six months went into this, you began pitching ideas to bookstore-café combinations a week after Steve and Wanda’s wedding. 

Bucky made sure to help you with the numbers aspect of your presentation, making it simplified. Staying up late surrounded by leftover food hearing you pitch to him over and over. Not once did he belittle you for asking questions, not once did he make you feel inferior for not understanding the integral aspect of finances. You knew enough to get by and file your yearly taxes but not this meticulously, while keeping your business in a growth mindset. 

Now seeing the signed contracts with a few cafés and especially the one where one of your risqué fantasies had come true really was the icing on the cake. 

Bucky deems a celebration is in order and the book buying journey turns into you both finding yourselves in the secluded section yet again. 

Only this time you’re the one tasting the dulce de leche off of his skin. The way he loses himself is sending you on a powertrip. His little whimpers and gasps, the groans that leave him. 

You’re straddling him, his head thrown back just at the teasing of your lips. Shirt unbuttoned and showing his beautiful skin. Surrounded by books and the promise of him recreating one of the scenes that had you go very quiet and calm as you read it. You smile as the blush that dusts his cheeks as he had read the scene is the same way right now. 

His pretty pink lips parted, large hands on your hips guiding you over his bulge. Sending shivers of pleasure thrumming through you in between your torture upon him.

“Sunshine,” His voice was hoarse, but you weren’t done. You smear another bit of the sweetness on his lips. Leaning down, the kiss is salvation and sin, heaven and hell. 

“Fuck, baby,” He groans.

Bucky’s left hand moves, gripping the back of your head, his knees bent and you hold onto him as he shifts the two of you with ease on the carpeted floor.

You’re beneath him now. He grinds against you, swallowing your moan of his name. Your nails clawing at his back, pulling him closer. 

“You know anyone could find us this way.” He teases, “You, fuck–, being a good girl for me, my pussy taking what she wants from me.” 

You moan at his words, your satin shirt unbuttoned. Bra unhooked, discarded somewhere. Fingers carding through Bucky’s hair as his lips latch onto your nipple, sucking hard. 

Your clit pulses demanding attention, he grinds down at the very moment sensing your need. 

“Fuck, Bucky, God—,” Your fingers tug on his hair, he moans against your hardened peak. Your hips move against him, demanding more. 

Bucky pulls away, his body covering yours, shielding you from prying eyes, he’s asked management to close off the section. He’d tell you afterwards he holds a stake in this store as an investment but not in the decision making. For now though you look so pretty and he can feel your arousal soaking the material of his pants and if he does not get even a little taste he thinks he might just die. 

Dipping his head to capture your sweet lips, he pauses brushing them, your nails—leaving a delicious burn in their greed. He loves it, loves all the marks you leave upon him. 

“Oh, oh fuck—what? Bucky? Y/N?! Holy shit!” 

Bucky stares down at you confused, you feel your body heat up and then tense. Then ice coats your veins. 

“Someone—,” You can’t complete your thought, Bucky’s hands are working at record speed, you now wear his henley. Your legs no longer wrapped around his waist but together and he pushes you behind him. 

You peek up from Bucky’s shoulder at the intruder and find a red faced Steve Rogers standing at the end of the aisle while staring down at his shoes. 

“Steve, what the fuck?” Bucky breaks the silence. 

“I um, I came for the books and uh, I’m going to go now…” He scratches the back of his neck. 

“What book?” Bucky looks at the aisle you both are, it begins at maternity books and ends on culinary books. Where the two of you are currently. 

“Are those pregnancy books?” You narrow your eyes at the books in his hand. 

“Uhm, yes the pregnant lady downstairs wanted another set of copies so I volunteered.” He explains with a cough. 

“How far along was she?” Bucky tilts his head at his best friend. 

“Um? I don’t know… Also I didn’t realise this was the way to get pregnant with a live demo aisle.”

“Wait a minute,” You look at the books again, then Steve and then recall the way Wanda had been the past two weeks. 

You lunge your phone while Bucky struggles to keep you covered. Steve just turns his back towards you both but remains standing in the aisle.

Wanda: 911 call me asap 

“Bucky!” You squeal, your man turns to you with eyes wide and confused. 

“What?” He holds onto his hoodie, you narrow your eyes at him. 

“You had your hoodie but gave me your henley?” You huff, typing back a response to Wanda. 

“Is that… relevant to whatever is going on with Steve and I suppose Wanda?” He hands you your jeans, you let the topic slide away for another day. 

“Can you both please get dressed?” Steve offers advice and plea. 

“Now you know what the two of us have to deal with when Wan and you are at it.” Bucky rolls his eyes.

“Jerk.”

“Idiot.”

“Punk.”

“Stupid.” 

“That's the only series of words you both say.” You comment. 

“That's because your Bucky has all the stupid with him.” 

Bucky snorts as he hands you your socks. Waiting for you to finish before he takes his clothes sans hoodie which you have conveniently stolen during his argument with his best friend. 

Right from under his nose. 

His heart somersaults nonetheless seeing his clothing on you. His dick however sends a very risqué image of you just in his unbuttoned shirt on top of him to his brain. 

You raise a brow at him, he only licks his bottom lip. Blue eyes sparkling with an intent you know all too well. 

He leans in, “Sunshine, I love fucking you and I fucking love you.” A sweet, innocent kiss is placed on your warm cheek before he puts on his shirt. 

“Finally.” Steve sighs with relief when Bucky taps his shoulder.

“So?” Bucky claps Steve’s shoulder as you head to your respective cars.

“So?” Steve repeats.

“Man, if you don’t tell me.” Bucky glares at him.

“Okay fine you remember her dream?” Steve grins.

Wanda’s call comes through, you move away from the two giggling boys.

“Wan?” You hear silence on the other end. Then a sniffle, “Oh Wan, what is it?”

“I don’t think I can do this?” She manages to breathe out just as there is clattering.

“You’ve been preparing for this, so what if it seems daunting?” You offer, concern washing over you, “I’ll be over in a few we can talk then okay?” 

Bucky lets you drive, following behind Steve.

Wanda is sprawled on the floor, instructions to make the crate covering her face.

“The adoption did go through, we’re picking him up tomorrow.” Steve informs.

“First of five?” Bucky grabs the misaligned crate parts.

“First of five.” Steve confirms.

You lay down near your best friend, the instruction sheet big enough that you too join in under it. 

“Hi.” You whisper.

“Hi.” Wanda whispers back.

“We’re in the kitchen okay, babygirl?” Steve calls out.

“Let me know if you both need anything, Soare mi.” Bucky pats your knee as they head to the kitchen.

“I will, Draega mea.” 

“Look at the blush.” Steve teases Bucky.

Wanda and you hear a swatting sound, it makes her chuckle finally. She looks over at you.

“I can do this right?”

“I have no doubt you’re going to be a great dog mom.” You smile at her, “Plus you bought that expensive baby stroller so of course my god-puppy is going to be spoiled rotten.”

Wanda laughs, she lets out a breath. Tears spring to her eyes, “I’m nervous.” 

Your hand reaching for hers, hiding under the blanket or your textbooks was a common theme.

“What have I told you, I believe about nervousness?” You remind her.

“It means I care.” She answers, breathing out, the instruction sheet flutters.

“Exactly, and your puppy is going to love you, along with the other random animals you will end up making Steve adopt.” You chuckle.

“I saw a rat in the basement, he was so tiny.” She gushes and gestures with her free hand the size of the rat.

“What did you name it?” At this point you know she potentially adopted it already. Setting up non-hazardous traps for it.

“Rara or Bugsy.”

“Hey, Bugsy is reserved for the hamster you adopt.” You need to set your foot down on the matter.

“You’re right, probably Remy. Yeah that makes sense.”

You shake your head but decide to sit up, immediately your best friend hugs you.

Steve approaches the entryway, a smile on his face. Mouthing a thank you to you.

“Oh by the way Wan, I caught them fucking at the bookstore.” He says with a shit eating grin.

You glare at him, Wanda screeches.

“Tell. Me. Everything.” She grabs your shoulders, “Also, Stevie you owe me money. I told you one time we’d catch them there.”

“How about I turn the cash into a cute purse?” Her husband offers to a very willing Wanda.

“Ya’ll bet on us?” Bucky feigns betrayal.

“Oh please, as if you both didn't place some bets on us.” Wanda points her finger at him.

“You told them?” You ask Bucky.

“Steve wondered where I got the cash for buying rounds at the bar.” Bucky defends, a sweet smile taking over his features, the crinkles by his eyes showing. Your heart beats harder, reminding you of your feelings.

“Smitten kitten.” Wanda whispers as she had years ago. 

You still swat her arm the same way.

“Bucky—,” Your quip is broken into a giggle. Strong arms encircle you. Bucky grabs onto the railing entrapping you against him. 

He brings his face close to yours, blue eyes bright and a smile on his face. 

“Sunshine.” He says happily, nose brushing against your own once, twice, several more times. You blush, heart roaring at the happiness you feel in this moment. 

A clamour of ‘oohs’ distract the two of you. Then the silence envelopes the small crowd gathered. 

Bucky gazes to the side, shifting slightly so you can see the view better. 

The snow capped mountains of Switzerland being embraced by the sunrise. Slowly taking over, your head rests upon his chest. His cheek upon your head as you both watch the dawn of a new day. 

“Beautiful.” You murmur, arms wrapping around him. 

“Not as beautiful as you, Sunshine.” Bucky chuckles, “I know I’ve told you this at every sunrise we’ve seen but it's true.” 

“All across Europe you’ve favoured me over the view.” You pull back to look up at him only to find him looking at you already, “That and the eskimo kisses.” 

Bucky laughs, “Oh remind me to tell you about that when we get home, tomorrow.” He cups your cheek, pulling you in for a kiss. You melt against him, the past three weeks were one of the best. 

After a year and a half of working hard to make the baking business take off. Bucky asked if you’d be willing to take a vacation. The business was better, you’d rented out a sort of studio space. Which could be versatile in its purpose on those weeks that you didn’t have many orders. Those days it was given to people looking for hosting their own classes or group sessions. 

Bucky had done the math, your next goal was owning a space as this, doing the same thing but you’d own it. He projected an achievable timeline. 

Progressing at his firm under the tutelage of Yusuf. Bucky himself was thriving in front of you. On some days you couldn’t believe you both were out of the labyrinth holding hands. 

Alas, the trip had come to an end. The memories would live on. Carried in the little photo album of polaroids. Negatives of films ready to be developed and the digital photos tucked away in memory cards and back up ones.

Sleepily walking into the apartment, you were hoping to crash on the couch itself. The small clock read close to five a.m. 

“Take a shower, you will feel better.” Bucky kisses your forehead. 

You whine in response, “Sleepy.” 

“Sunshine.” He uses the kind of stern tone you can’t fight against.

“Puffin.” 

“Cmon, you knew I’d help beat jet lag.” Bucky leads you to his and now your shared room. 

“Only because you have a fancy shower.” You grumble, allowing him to help you out of your coat. 

He only laughs, placing a sweet kiss to your jaw. 

“Join me?” You offer the most innocent expression on your face. 

“Tempt me all you want Sunshine, I am not going to shower with you again, you’re my angel but your water temperature can rival hell.” Bucky kisses your nose, squeezing your ass just as you pull away. 

Swatting his arm you head into the bathroom, “Don’t tell me later, ‘Can’t dick down Sunshine in the bathroom.’”

Bucky sputters the water he began drinking, “That was one time and Steve fed me weed brownies!” 

“I had those too! I didn’t say Bucky is a wimp during warm showers!” You call out over the sound of the lovely said warm water. 

“More like scalding.” He peeks into the bathroom, getting a good view of you. 

“Did you not want to unpack the chocolates we bought?” You remind him, he smiles nodding and heading out. 

After your shower you find your favourite hoodie from Bucky’s collection on the bed. You could cry because it was warm. 

“Hey Sunshine, are you out yet?” Bucky calls out. 

“Yeah, just a second.” 

“I wanted to know is the hot chocolate supposed to go in the fridge?” 

“You remember what happened to the Cocoa Powder of February don’t you?” You pause your stride to the kitchen. 

Several paper hearts line the floor to the little balcony. A balloon floats tied to the handrail. You pad over, Bucky not in sight. 

“Bucky?” You call out, pulling the balloon down, there isn’t anything written on it. 

Warm arms encircle you, just as they did at every observation deck, during every sunrise. As if he planned it down to the minute, the sky breaks into colours of dawn, you turn to face him. 

“Puffin?” You stare up at him.

Bucky leans in, eskimo kissing you. You smile as you always did when he showed his affection this way.

“One sunrise at home. More than a year ago, at sunset I proposed to you albeit it was a staged one. This one isn’t staged. I put something on our vision board. Maybe you hadn’t seen it.” His hands move to grasp yours, “Do you know puffins mate for life? They sort of peck their beaks to know their love.”

“Is that why you’ve been eskimo kissing me?” You wanted to cry.

He wipes your cheek with the back of his, your hands still intertwined.

“I haven’t even started the proposal yet.” He chuckles, but his own eyes are misty. Tears gathering. His cheeks turned pink.

“I got the chance to fall in love with you again. Maybe that is a blessing. To watch you grow and see you in different lights. Sunshine, I’ve seen you eclipsed, I’ve felt your warmth on cold mornings. I’ve dreamed of you when you aren’t near. I’ve dreamed of you when I have you in my arms. I’ve lost you. I’ve found you.” He pauses, taking a deep inhale.

“I’ve been the worst foe to you. I’ve had the honour to be your friend. I’ve had the honour to have your trust. You say I’m your home Sunshine but I’ve found my peace with you. I want you for the rest of my life. I’ve seen what an engagement to you is like, I want to know what marriage is with you.” He slowly gets down on one knee.

Tears flowing out of his beautiful blue eyes.

“Oh Bucky,” You blink the tears free.

“I know, I’m not perfect,” He begins, “I’m not either,” You remind him.

“But we, we fit right.” He smiles when you wipe the tears from his eyes.

“We do.” You agree.

“Sunshine, will you be mine, to have, to hold, to love, cherish, in sickness, in health, in life. Whatever may come our way, will you allow me to be your husband? Will you be my wife? I also promise to say ‘Where is my wife?’ just like those book boys of yours.” He chuckles.

“You’re way above them, I love you so much. I didn’t think I’d get to know what it is to be yours, once I had a taste. I didn’t think I could go back.” You kneel as well.

“Puffin, I’ve seen you grow and I want to grow with you, two trees in the same forest. Roots expanting, branches fanning out. Puffins mating for life. I didn’t think I could find happiness. Let alone find the happiness that I thought was lost between us. So yes, I will be yours, husband. To love, to cherish, in sickness, in health, in life. I love you more than my book boyfriends.”

“More than that one bodyguard book dude?” Bucky’s teasing you know it, you laugh and nod.

“Yes, even more than him.” Your forehead rests against his, Bucky slips something onto your finger.

“We had wedding bands but never an engagement ring, I knew you wouldn’t want those replaced. I had the ring designed to match the original band. So you could wear both.” He explains the beautiful piece of jewellery. 

“I love you, husband.” You grin as Bucky blushes, a shyness he only showed in front of you takes over him.

“I love you, wife.” Bucky cups your cheek, drawing closer. 

His lips meeting yours, the morning light shining bright around the two of you.

A.N: thank you for waiting, loving and reading this story, i find it very difficult to part with the worlds i create and labyrinth is so close to my heart so very close to my heart i will miss this fic so much im crying brb

tagging: @slutforsexyseabass @elle14-blog1 @sxnshinebxcky @sebsgirl71479 @pandaxnienke @stevesmewmew @tfandtws @povlvr @tanyaspartak@maggiejackson3@brodymarx @ladylee76 @buckyinluv @buckymcbuckbarnes @almostcontentcreator @alltoounwellread @unaxv @stickyjudgeturtleghost(strikedthrough if unable to be tagged)

[godsofhumanity]

okay i admit i may have been projecting onto my best friend Apollo, but logically, if Artemis fights a lot with Hera, then I assume Apollo also has a certain level of annoyance/hatred with Hera.

anyways. for Artemis, i say that she is mean, or rather, disrespectful, to Hera based on the following:

in the Iliad, Apollo (on the side of the Trojans) and Poseidon (on the side of the Greeks), come head-to-head. but Apollo, out of respect for Poseidon, chooses not to engage in battle with him. Artemis comes face-to-face with Hera, queen of the gods, and decides that she will fight Hera and even berates Apollo for being a "coward" and not fighting Apollo:

"Let me [Artemis] not hear you [Apollo] in the halls of my father boasting ever again, as you did before among the immortals, that you could match your strength in combat against Poseidon." (Homer's Iliad, Book 21, Line 475)

and then after Hera beats her (somewhat easily lol), she goes and complains about it to Zeus, as if Hera did something wrong:

"Her father [Zeus] caught her against him, and laughed softly, and questioned her : ‘Who now of the [gods], dear child, has done such things to you, rashly, as if you were caught doing something wicked?’ Artemis, sweet-garlanded lady of clamours, answered him: ‘It was your wife, Hera of the white arms, who hit me...’" (Homer's Iliad, Book 21, Line 505)

and i know that this style of writing makes everything a lot more dramatic then it needs to be, but still! Hermes, faced against Leto, decided that he wouldn't fight her because she was a wife of Zeus and it was wrong for him to do so:

"Leto, I [Hermes] will not fight with you; it is a foolish thing to fight with the wives of Zeus, the cloud-gatherer..." (Homer's Iliad, Book 21, Line 498)

evidently, both Apollo and Hermes understood that it wasn't proper for them to fight against their elders, and Hermes explicitly states that it's not right to fight a wife of Zeus, but Artemis alone decides that she can do whatever she wants and tries to contend with Hera... ?? seems like she has a grouse against Hera (and i get why given Leto and Python, etc.).

2. in Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Artemis again does battle with Hera (and loses).

"Against Hera came highland Artemis as champion for hillranging Dionysus [when the gods took sides in the battle of Dionysus' forces against the Indians]... [and Hera] struck Artemis flat on the skin of the breast, and Artemis, smitten ..., emptied her quiver upon the ground." (Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Book 36, Line 28)

now unlike in the Iliad, i do think Artemis was justified here because she was trying to protect Dionysus, but it's just funny to me that Artemis always seems to be fighting with Hera. they never really seem to be on the same page. it's interesting because in the Dionysiaca, Hera seems to explicitly describes Artemis as a foil of Hera:

"... you virgin marriage-hater..." (Nonnus' Dionysiaca, Book 36, Line ~70)

anyways. the most stand-out point to me, is that when Artemis and Hera go head-to-head, there's always this long passage of insults that proceed any fighting, especially on Hera's end. i wont write it out all here, but you can see it in the Dionysiaca, Book 36. that says to me that Hera really doesn't like Artemis, and Artemis surely couldn't like Hera either. they strike me as the kind of people who take every opportunity to be snide and cruel to each other. even Athena, whom Hera didn't like very much in the beginning when Zeus appeared to "give birth to her on his own", Hera eventually became friends with and in the Iliad they seem to have a very close relationship. but Hera never really gets something like that with Artemis,, which is what makes me say that they didn't get along.

i admit, my language might've been extreme in saying that Apollo and Artemis were "bitches" to Hera HAHAH i am a shitposter after all, don't take my word literally. but still, my sentiments stemmed from this idea of Hera and Artemis appearing to fight a lot when they share scenes.

[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 13

Chapter WC: 3576

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There are some nights The scary ones Where I feel as though my heart will burst I hear it Pounding against my chest It fills me with anxiety I know I won’t die But my thoughts keep me awake And I’m left staring at the dark ceiling

Half of a year.

That’s how long you have been in the magical world of the Seventeenth Realm.

And it wasn’t any closer to feeling like home…

Of course there were people that you considered friends. For example, Vernon, Jihoon and Soonyoung, your dorm mates, were all very good friends. You ate delicious meals that Mingyu cooked for everyone like a little family. Dino still checked on you and performed routine examinations every other week. It was hard to ignore the Alchemist, especially when his familiar had taken a liking to you.

Archivist Jeon was still keeping his space but you no longer felt awkward around the older Arcanist. Whenever you had a hard question about magic or needed to find a specific book, he was always there to help. Seungkwan was also always willing to lend a hand when finding informational books on language and incantations. You were still yet to meet his mentor, Joshua, but that didn’t necessarily bother you. Apparently, the young Ward was very busy.

Lessons with Jeonghan halted during your short healing period. The raven haired man himself never entered the dorm, but his black ball python familiar, Obsidian, would visit from time to time. The slithering creature was able to climb up to your window and when you let him enter, he would always curl around your forearm. You felt bad, spending all this time away from Jeonghan without telling him what had happened, but through Obsidian you were able to send small messages. 

You found yourself telling the sleek snake about your day and what you’ve been learning while away from his Arcanist. The creature obviously was unable to respond since he wasn’t your familiar, but he understood your words and you were certain he relayed them to Jeonghan. 

There was one evening, during the beginning of summer, where Obsidian tapped on your window expectantly. When you welcomed him into your room, you saw a small note attached to his body. You let Obsidian crawl up your arm and gently untied the note from his lithe form to open the slip of paper. It was in Jeonghan’s handwriting.

Come to the balcony.

With the black scaled snake still wrapped around your arm, you opened your door and peeked out, looking both ways before exiting the confines of your room. Even though it had been three months since your last episode, you knew that if Jihoon or Soonyoung saw you out of your room they would escort you back. Shadow was also a possibility, his sense of smell was good and Tigris had very alert ears, but you saw neither the familiars or their Arcanists. Gingerly, you stepped through the hall to reach the balcony, thankfully no one was there.

The evening air was warm and slightly humid, clouds formed, shielding the orange sky from showing itself. Despite the desire to see the sky you scanned the area, looking for Jeonghan. Obsidian crawled from your arm to the balcony railing, wrapping himself around the structure to climb downward. You watched as he reached the ground and slithered out toward a figure in the grass. 

Jeonghan stood in the small field below you, gazing up at you with his sleepy eyes. His lips tugged into a lazy smile and he beckoned you forward. 

“Come down.” He projected his voice while trying to remain somewhat quiet.

“I can’t- Jihoon will beat my ass if he sees me walking around the halls.”

You couldn’t hear it, but Jeonghan was definitely laughing.

“Jump-”

“What?!”

Jeonghan sighed. “Jump- I’ll catch you.”

Flabbergasted, you rolled your eyes as you processed Jeonghan’s words. He wanted you to jump off of the balcony so he could catch you? That sounded like a sure fire way to break your ankle. 

“Fuck it-”

You leapt over the railing and felt a short breeze blow past you. Instead of Jeonghan’s arms catching you, the wind had guided your fall, the soft grass beneath your feet. 

“See? I would never let you fall~” He said in a playful tone.

“Ha. Ha.” You said in a sarcastic tone, rolling your eyes again.

Jeonghan threw his arm over your shoulder to pull you in for a hug. “I missed you.”

You reciprocated the embrace with a soft smile. “Awh. I missed you too.” The words were less than kind when you spoke them.

As you stayed close to Jeonghan, Obsidian slithered his way back to you, hanging himself around your neck. You stroked the smooth scales and smiled as the python fashioned himself into a scarf, a snake scarf. Jeonghan released his hold on your shoulders and slid his hand down your arm to grab hold of your hand. 

“Do you want to go to the glade or the lake?” He asked as he led you along the stream.

You pondered the options. “Hm… Can we go somewhere new?”

Jeonghan thought to himself as the two of you continued down the path, but paused as something popped into his mind. “Oh! I can take you to see my friend.”

“Friend?”

“Shua! He’s a ward here.” Jeonghan said with a bright smile. “We hang out occasionally.”

“Shua? Like Joshua? Seungkwan’s mentor?”

Jeonghan nodded as he pulled you in the opposite direction, moving toward the woods away from the main path. You were afraid you would get lost, but your company appeared to be well acquainted with the less traveled paths.

The black brick cottage was bigger than Dino’s but much smaller than the Evoker Dorms. Everything was so tidy, the potted plants on the porch were well taken care of and the shrubs around the house were expertly pruned. Jeonghan, still leading you by the hand, knocked on the door and waited patiently.

Without a single creak, the door swung open and you were met with warm, chestnut hair and a fawn-like face, his overall appearance was charming and friendly. He greeted you with a smile but as he turned to Jeonghan his lips flattened.

“Wow- You used the door.” His dark brown eyes peered down to where you and Jeonghan’s were linked.

Blushing, you unlatched yourself from Jeonghan and rubbed the back of your neck while avoiding eye contact. 

“I thought I should be polite since I brought Sage with me.” Jeonghan said with a forced smile.

“Nice to meet you. You must be Joshua.” You muttered in a small voice.

“That is correct! It’s nice to finally meet you, Sage.” Joshua held the door open for both you and Jeonghan, welcoming you into the home with an outstretched arm.

The three of you spoke over tea and biscuits. You learned that Joshua was originally from California, but his parents sent him to the Seventeenth Realm for protection. He also spoke on how even though he is technically younger than Seungkwan, he is still a mentor and is proficient in Abjuration magic.

You briefly read about the Abjuration School, it's a class of magic that is centered around defense, counter spells, and ward casting. Seungkwan spoke highly of Joshua, he often praised his mentor on how skilled he was in casting protection spells as well as enchanting items to create magical charms. 

“Speaking of magical charms, Joshuji here said he had something for you…” Jeonghan leaned on Joshua as he spoke, a playful smile on his features.

Joshua shot a confused look at Jeonghan. “I- Yeah, that’s right. I’ll go get it- one moment-” 

You and Jeonghan were left alone in the living room, sitting across from each other. He continued to sip his tea while you studied your surroundings. The interior of the house was just as neat as its exterior, overall it had a rustic feel with a lot of crystals and minerals decorating the shelves. Even the mantle of the fireplace had plenty of trinkets and geodes that came in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Jeonghan veered into your line of sight with a knowing expression.

“Joshua and Seungkwan like to collect things. They’re like little crows.” He chuckled to himself. “I’m sure half of the things Seungkwan has laying around are from that human boy he’s sweet on…”

“Vernon?”

“That’s his name?” Jeonghan perked up. “He’s one of the Evokers- a roommate?”

You nodded your head. “Yeah- and sweet on each other is an understatement. They need to get on with it and start dating…”

“They aren’t dating?”

Joshua returned from upstairs and reclaimed his spot on the couch. In his hand he held a long chained necklace with a chunk of dark metal attached to it. In spite of the piece of jewelry looking a bit rough, it was still pretty.

“It’s a charm I had been working on for the past three months. The metal has strong properties. For example, the enchantment is-”

“Balance based.” Jeonghan interrupted Joshua’s explanation. “Shua told me a lot about it. Seungkwan informed him you’ve been filling your weeks with studying and so he wanted to give you something that would keep your energy in balance.”

The thoughtfulness made you smile. “Thank you, Joshua. It’s super cool-looking too, I like the long chain style.” You thanked him as you held the necklace in your hands.

Wearing the chain, you looked down and admired the shiny rock. It went down to your sternum so it could easily be tucked into your shirt.

“The enchantment will take effect slowly, gradually repairing your psyche and replenishing your mana.” Joshua explained. “Jeonghan helped me with it, so it should be extra potent.”

You flashed a warm smile to Jeonghan. “So I should be thanking you as well.”

“I’m glad you like it! It suits you.”

A light blush heated your cheeks due to Jeonghan’s compliment. You peered down to fidget with the necklace. but you could feel that Jeonghan’s gaze was piercing through you.

“Alright-” Joshua started as he rose from his seat. “As much as I would love for you to stay, I have some work.” He walked the two of you to the front door. “Get the hell out, Jeonghan- Sage you can visit anytime, I’m sure Seungkwan would love it.”

The door was shut, and with a click you and Jeonghan were locked out of the home. 

“Damn- I was going to ask some more questions about the charm…”

Jeonghan returned his arm to your shoulders and draped himself over you. “I helped with it, I can try and answer any lingering questions.”

Your raven-haired friend was successful in answering most of your questions, the simple ones. He told you that the hunk of metal was Magnetite and that its properties were best suited for balancing energy, emotions and focus. The two of you continued to chat as you walked along the pristine cobbled road. Here the pathways were better kept and fresher, they must have been paved recently.

The trees were a bit more sparse in this area, instead of evergreens they were birch trees with white bark and light green leaves. You saw the evening sky easily through the canopy, the clouds cleared and the deep purple of dusk was clear and visible. 

“Oh?” Jeonghan whispered in a low voice as he focused his attention forward.

You followed his eyeline and saw another man walking down the path. His head was faced downward, reading a book that he held with bandaged forearms. You saw a head of dusty orange hair and tanned skin, his eyes were trained on his book. The outfit he wore was simple, a loose fitting white button up, equally flowy navy trousers, and laced boots that disappeared past his pant legs.

“Ah- Dokyeom! Long time no see!” Jeonghan called out with a lazy yet boisterous smile.

The other man, Dokyeom, tore his eyes from his book to look for the source of the voice. When he saw you and Jeonghan, he froze for a moment and bowed his head as a greeting. The orange haired man began to turn.

“What have you been up to, Kyeomie?” Jeonghan called out while dragging you with him to approach the other.

Dokyeom stopped in his tracks and turned to address Jeonghan. “I’ve just been experimenting with spells. Exploring my potential and such…” His voice was sweet and polite as he spoke, dark, nearly black eyes studied you as he spoke. 

His eyes glued onto where Jeonghan had his arm wrapped around you. There was a subtle bunch of nerves that filled your chest, it wasn’t a comfortable feeling. 

“Oh- How fun! Are you using the tome I lent you?”

Dokyeom returned his gaze to Jeonghan. “Yes. It’s been very helpful with Sanguis Magica .”

“You study blood magic?”

The orange-haired man was about to speak, but Jeonghan leaned in close to your ear.

“Mhm- Dokyeom here is a Vitae and a damn good one…” He chuckled darkly. “He’s learned how to enhance his healing magic by using his own blood. Kyeomie has always been a bit of a martyr .” Jeonghan sighed another laugh as he fixed his posture.

“This is great actually!” He continued to talk. “You can thank Dokyeom in person now, Sage!”

You raised an eyebrow at Jeonghan’s statement but returned your attention to Dokyeom as a wave of panic crashed into you.

“He’s the one who saved you and brought you to Dino- He practically drained himself dry healing you…”

The words hit you like a truck as you realized this man, Dokyeom, had saved you more than once. He retrieved you from the lake, healed you, and then the time your head almost burst, he saved you again.

“Ah- I- Thank you!” You stuttered. “I honestly don’t know if I can thank you enough. You saved me twice and I’m thanking you six months later- Wow- I am awful.”

The concern and anxiety that was radiating off of Dokyeom started to fade away as you spoke to him. A bright smile plastered on his face and your heart skipped a beat at the sight.

“It’s my duty to help people if I can. Even if it means sacrificing my own strength.”

You heard Jeonghan snicker next to you and whisper a soft, ‘Martyr’ You nudged him with your elbow, softly but enough to get him to behave.

“Were you heading somewhere before we interrupted your path, Kyeomie?” Jeonghan asked playfully.

Dokyeom shook his head. “Just returning to the Springs…”

“Oh- Then we’ll be on our way, I’m sure you need to recharge-” Jeonghan began to walk away, dragging you with him.

“It was nice to finally meet you!” You said in a raised tone as you looked back.

Dokyeom was still standing still in the middle of the road as he watched you and Jeonghan walk away. 

For once, Jeonghan walked you to your dorm. Twilight was in full effect with indigo skies and a rising moon. The late evening air was refreshing compared to the warm midday weather. Jeonghan had resorted to holding your hand instead of smothering you with his arm. He stopped at the opening in the treeline, the dorm only yards away.

There was a moment of pause as the hold Jeonghan had on your hand anchored you in place. Instead of his usual lazy expression he looked nervous as you turned back and approached him.

“Thank you for seeing me today, Sage.” He said, keeping an even tone.

A smile creeped its way up to your cheeks. “You know it’s no problem and thank you for the gift.”

“Why are you thanking me for that, it’s from Josh-”

“I knew that was a lie.” You snickered. “You were too eager and he was too confused.”

“You got me there…” Jeonghan trailed off with a dry chuckle.

Another pause.

Smiling at each other, the two of you shared a look.

Jeonghan raised his hand to your face, brushing a stray strand of hair from your cheek. The proximity made you hold your breath instinctively and you closed your eyes as Jeonghan leaned in slowly.

The feeling of soft lips gently pressed against your skin as Jeonghan placed a delicate kiss on your forehead. Heat immediately filled your face, making the chilled touch of Jeonghan’s hand more prevalent. Your eyes fluttered open and you saw Jeonghan staring down at you, eyes soft and full of adoration. 

“Goodnight, Sage.” He said as he released you.

Too stunned or flustered to speak, you nodded your head to show that you understood his words. With another quiet laugh, Jeonghan turned and made his way into the tree line.

“Ah- Goodnight!” You called out before he fully disappeared.

With a spin, Jeonghan looked back at you and waved goodbye with a two finger salute.

What had just happened finally caught up to you, and you blushed once more, a surge of energy threatening to burst forth. The feeling in your chest was warm and light, and it lingered as you entered the dorm.

A resounding chorus of chirps welcomed you at the door as you saw a gaggle of familiars in the entrance. 

“Oh- Hello, Ruby, Shadow, Tigris, oh- Yucca is here too… Kelpy? Is that a rabbit?”

Without another sound, Ruby chirped an order and led the rest of the familiars into the house. Sheepishly, you followed behind, hoping that everyone would just ignore you as you passed by the dining room. Before you could even think of executing your plan, you were stopped by a very agitated Mingyu leaning against the archway.

“Sage- Where were you all evening? We’ve been searching for-” Mingyu checked his pocket watch. “A whole two hours…”

“Uh- I went for a walk, got a little lost…”

“Two. Whole. Hours?” 

“Jeez, sorry mom I’ll be home on time next time…” You rolled your eyes at Mingyu.

The taller man crossed his arms and leaned his weight on one hip. “Seriously, Sage?”

“Y’know what? Dinner sounds great right now.” You walked past him, ignoring the flames in his eyes.

Just as you suspected, the whole gang was here. Vernon sat side by side with Seungkwan, Jihoon and Soonyoung ceased all conversation as they watched you enter, and a troubled Dino sat across from them. Sauntering to the counter, you fixed yourself a plate of food and sat next to Dino.

“Where-” Dino started to ask a question.

“I went out for a walk to get some fresh air and I ended up getting lost. I found where Joshua lives- You were right Boo, he’s very nice.”

Mingyu took a seat at the table as Dino rose from his chair to refill his plate.

“Oh and I met this nice guy named Dokyeom-” 

The sound of a plate shattering against the hardwood floor had you whipping your head up in surprise.

Everyone paused and stared after you spoke. The atmosphere was… weird and the feeling in your chest was even weirder.

“Did I say something wrong?” You asked with an innocent expression.

Dino crouched down and began cleaning up the plate he dropped. Vernon and Seungkwan noticed the tension, standing from their place at the table and leaving with their familiars. Mingyu patted his hand on the table to grab your attention.

His puppy-like eyes filled with worry. “Are you feeling alright?”

“What? Yeah-” You thought for a moment. “Is he, like, not cool or something?”

“No- No! He’s fine, he’s cool.” Soonyoung stuttered, the tone sounding a little forced.

Jihoon lightly smacked Soonyoung’s shoulder and muttered a low “Shut the fuck up.”

Dino returned the table empty handed and sat right beside you. “Did he say anything to you?”

“I mean- now I know who saved my life.” The table went still as everyone held their breath. “And I thanked him… Why are you guys acting so weird?”

“We’re just worried that because he was present when you entered this realm that it would tie in with your memory loss.” Jihoon spoke with an analytical tone. “Dino told us he could have triggered the near-hemorrhage you had. We just want you to be careful…”

As Jihoon spoke, a bad taste covered your tongue. Jihoon himself was feeling uncomfortable, you could sense it. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to focus on your friends at this moment…

Dino was the easiest to read, you didn’t need to dig deep, his concern was evident from his appearance alone. Mingyu was indifferent, more worried about where you were than who you were with. Soonyoung seemed a little lost, like he was missing a piece of the conversation, but the others' uneasiness must have bled onto him.

“Guys- I’m fine- No headaches or nose bleeds while I was out. It was actually really refreshing because, y’know, I’ve been cooped up in my room for three months…”

“No- That’s fair.” Mingyu spoke and all heads turned to him. ‘What? The balcony can only provide so much, it’s only fair that Sage gets to take a walk.”

“Thank you, Mingyu-”

“But-” He interrupted. “It would also be nice if you let someone know and took a buddy with you…”

“Okay- I can do that. Jihoon, wanna go on a walk with me tomorrow?” You spoke as you dramatically turned your head to the man in question. 

He sighed deeply. “Yeah- Sure…”

“Don’t sound too excited…”

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FE2 Novelization Translation - Book 2 Chapter 2 Part 6

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Chapter 2: Battle at the Border

Part 6: Crux of Fate

“Please let me make it in time!!” Zeke urged his sacred horse to gallop as quickly as he could. 

The pieces of his horse’s golden chest armor violently hit each other, clanging loudly. 

His five Paladins were not far behind.

Finally, he saw piles of Witch corpses strewn all around him, confirming to him that Alm had indeed gone to Nuibaba’s mansion. Their horses’ hooves crushed the bodies beneath them as they continued on.

-

Zeke had no idea how long ago Alm left the village, as he had passed out on the floor of the hut.

When he came to, he saw the familiar faces of five of his Paladins, all inside the hut with him. “Emperor Rudolf chose the five of us himself, and ordered that we do as you say, Sir Zeke.”

Their words made him cry as hard as he ever had in his entire life, moved by their kindness and friendship. Them being here also confirmed that Emperor Rudolf had known all along that the person with the Brand was Alm, and his order meant that Zeke was to serve Alm.

Zeke thought, ‘Emperor Rudolf, as an extraordinary talent in politics and leadership, must have decided that Alm is the one person who can unify Valentia. He intends to hand Rigel over to Alm. It is most likely that Valentia would become a republic, but regardless of the final form of the new government, the monarchy would be abolished. Emperor Rudolf is probably expecting Alm to become a great leader, both in the best and worst of times. Just as I have always thought, he values Valentia being at peace.

‘And this war is likely a sacrificial operation carried out on purpose to remove the small armies that have come to power across each region of Rigel, and purge Rigel of its corruption. Jerome is the perfect example of one such army. Like a surgeon performing a surgery, Emperor Rudolf has chosen Alm as the best candidate for a successful operation.

‘If all of this is right, then I have no reason to have any doubts. There is nothing more for me to think about. It is my duty to protect Alm until all of this is over. That is what it means to be loyal to Emperor Rudolf!’ This explanation for everything also cleared his mind of the fear that he was living a cruel paradox. He would even be able to hold Tatiana in his arms once more when they one day reunited.

“We march to Fear Mountain!” Zeke ordered his Paladins. He wrapped several layers of cloth bandages around his abdomen to stop his bleeding, then immediately left the village.

-

The decision to call Nuibaba’s mansion as such must have been a bad joke by someone with a terrible sense of humor. Or perhaps it came to be because the people envied him a bit, living a lifestyle free of society’s worldly trappings. Regardless, even if it was meant to be sarcastic, it was still not a good joke in the slightest.

Nuibaba’s abode was not a mansion at all, but a stronghold in every meaning of the word. The summit of Fear Mountain was a very steep cliff, and walls characteristic of a stronghold stood all around it. The passageway built to make it up and down the mountain was made of stone, and looked just like a castle wall. It was so narrow it would be difficult for two horses to pass by each other, and it was built into a very steep incline that led straight to the front gate.

They traveled with Alm as their vanguard; followed by Clive, Mathilda, and Gray atop their horses; and Clair flying high in the sky on her falcon. Behind them, Lukas and Forsyth formed a wall around Tobin, Python, and Delthea. Before them, Nuibaba’s subordinates did not stand a chance. Cutting them down was easy, and defeating them took no effort, but when everyone thought of Nuibaba waiting for them and how much his Medusa spell was to be feared, no matter how simple it was to make their way through the waves of small fry, it was all meaningless.

No one knew what kind of spell Medusa truly was, though that was to be expected. It was said to be such a lethal spell that no one who witnessed it had ever survived to describe it. With its true form unknown, they had even more reason to be afraid.

The prominent theory proposed that it is a mind reversal spell. It reverses all of the target’s values, senses, instincts, and psychology to its polar opposite. Those trying to live will die, and those seeking help will be killed. The spellcaster would then instantly turn to stone, protecting themself from the screams of agony and hell on earth now surrounding them. If world peace could be achieved and maintained, then the Medusa spell would reverse it all, and summon an absolute hell from which none could escape.

‘Absolute hell? Does such a thing even exist? Having control over absolute hell would make Nuibaba akin to a god. Just what kind of Arcanist is he?’ Once they finally tore down the stronghold’s gate and invaded the hall of Nuibaba’s mansion, Alm finally learned the truth.

There were no pillars supporting the high ceiling, making the inner hall a completely wide open space. It was so empty that it would not feel strange if stars started to shine within the darkness of the ceiling. Beneath it was an equally endless floor made of stone tiles. And sitting atop the stone floor on his knees, without even a chair to help support him, was an old man. He looked like a scrap of paper fallen on a desolate road.

“Are you Nuibaba?” Alm asked, more to convince himself than anything. 

The old man did not look at all like an Archanist, much less the Nuibaba of legend. He did not even wear a holy man’s robes, but a simple white, long cloth. The only outwardly trait he had of a religious figure was his bald head, without even a single hair upon it.

However, Alm should have known that a weak appearance does not indicate that a person is also weak on the inside.

“Wind, sweep away my enemies!” Nuibaba suddenly cast an Excalibur spell, without drawing its sigil, nor even moving an inch from his place on the floor. 

The spell sliced open both Gray and Python’s dominant arms; and because none of Alm’s army had any warning of what was coming, none of them could hold their ground.

“Curse you!” Shouted Delthea as she lept out in front. 

Nuibaba immediately noticed that she was a magic Unit, and first tested out the basic Fire and Thunder spells on her. But Delthea was a prodigy so talented she had already mastered Aura, even at her young age. 

He knew exactly how she was aiming her spell, and stayed completely still to judge the distance between them. It was the distance needed for him to be within the target range of an Aura spell.

The sigil Delthea drew was indeed that of Aura. However, she was unable to complete its chant because the words Nuibaba spoke when he opened his mouth for the first time were so unexpected. 

“Cast it! Cast the light that killed your brother!” He said, and every single one of the Knights of Zofia heard him.

His heightened magical abilities allowed him to sense that no one had told her, and she did not yet know the truth - that she was her own brother’s killer.

Everyone looked at Delthea as she became ghostly pale.

“Wind, sweep away my enemies!”

The moment she faltered and failed to properly draw Aura’s sigil, Nuibaba cast another Excalibur spell. This time, she was unable to dodge, and it sliced open her shoulder before she collapsed to the ground. Just as he was about to attack a third time, Clair’s falcon glided through the hall and scooped her up.

Clair wrapped her arm around Delthea’s tiny body, while Delthea grabbed ahold of her falcon’s mane. And Delthea stared straight at Clair as the thunderous sounds of Excaliber’s winds blew around them.

“What did he say? What did he say?” Delthea mumbled multiple times to herself before she finally screamed, “He said I killed my brother!”

All Clair could do was hug her. Huger tight, and tell her to forget what she’d heard. “Just forget he ever said anything!” 

It was a cruel order. Telling her to forget was certain proof that the thing she was supposed to forget about was undeniably true.

Then, from beneath the falcon’s wings, they heard Nuibaba chant another spell. “Light, shine down upon my enemies!”

He was casting Aura. Its shards of light were so scorching hot that they could even burn a falcon’s wings, causing Clair’s mount to crash head-first against the stone floor.

-

“So this is the power of Medusa?!” Zeke thought as he rushed into the mansion. 

Such a statement was far from unbelievable.

In the middle of the room sat an old man who looked as if he was meditating, and scattered around him as if they were garbage he had tossed aside, was every member of the Newly Reborn Knights of Zofia. Even Alm was dyed crimson with his own blood.

“He’s breathing!” One of Zeke’s Paladins immediately jumped off his horse to examine the person nearest to him. It was Forsyth. Both his dominant arm and his back were sliced open, and his shoulders were heaving heavily. But he was alive, meaning that Nuibaba had yet to cast Medusa.

“You never see it coming… You move, and his magic will already be waiting for you…” Forsyth said. His face contorted in fear as he passed out, still gripping the Paladin’s arm.

“I will distract Nuibaba!” Zeke said. “All five of you will carry the Knights of Zofia out of here!” He gave his orders, then galloped his horse forward to stand right in front of Nuibaba.

If Nuibaba had acknowledged Zeke’s determination to fight him, he would have at least been the slightest bit shaken. Instead, he simply watched the Paladins carry off the Knights of Zofia as they desperately clung to their lives.

“I have come to confirm with my own body just what kind of spell Medusa is!” Zeke said as his sacred horse, fully adorned in the suit of armor bestowed upon the mount of a Gold Knight, snorted and smashed the stone tiles beneath them with his front hooves. I will survive your magic, so that none will be afraid of you ever again. I will prove once and for all whether or not absolute fear exists in this world. Prepare yourself!” Zeke gripped his horse’s reins.

Nuibaba did not move even an inch. He thought that Zeke was being quite honorable.

Nuibaba had plotted together with Jerome. Based on that, Zeke knew exactly what kind of person he probably was. However, Nuibaba did not ask a single question about why Zeke had switched sides; and now that they were facing off as enemies, he simply stared back, proving his reputation as the proud Arcanist general.

The moment Zeke’s horse took a single step forward, wind blew past them. His cheek was cut for the first time ever in his life. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a spurt of blood fly past him. His horse flinched. Zeke pulled his reins to reprimand him for doing so. 

“Do not insult me with a spell like Exaclibur!” Zeke shouted, and took another step forward. 

A ball of light exploded, signaling that Nuibaba had cast an Aura spell. It was a direct hit against his horse’s armor. The grating sound of thousands of light shards scraping against metal echoed through the air. He felt the back of his neck become hot. Half of his uniform’s collar blew away.

“Why won’t you cast Medusa?!”

By the time he spoke those words, Nuibaba was already directly beneath him. Nuibaba raised his head just enough to look at Zeke from the side. His eyes were mocking the Gold Knight. 

The sight of them made Zeke’s blood boil, and so he aimed and stabbed his lance at Nuibaba’s chest.

The tip of his lance felt dull. The moment he had extended it, he realized how reckless his action was. Knowing that he was cornered, Nuibaba must have cast a lethal Medusa spell that would hit him any second now. The reason why his spearhead felt dull was because Zeke feared that premonition.

Nuibaba moved. 

‘Finally!’ Zeke thought. ‘Should I keep my eyes open, or shut them as tight as I can? If I am going to die, then I want to see my final moments.’ He made up his mind, and kept his eyes wide open.

But he saw no sign that Nuibaba had cast a spell, rather, he saw Nuibaba standing up in the air, as if he was flying.

What he thought was not what had happened at all. His lance had stabbed through Nuibaba’s body.

It pierced his chest as easily as it would rotting hunks of fat and flesh, and slid through so far that it went past his waist. The spearhead had even stabbed into a stone floor tile.

“Zeke,” Nuibaba gripped the lance with both hands and stared straight at Zeke, his elderly face not even wincing in pain. “I have only attained the first few steps of enlightenment. The difference between Rudolf and me is like that of the sun and a grain of sand. I was never able to make much progress.”

Nuibaba paused to cough up blood. “Anything other than full enlightenment is meaningless. When I learned that you had switched to Alm’s side, I realized that Rudolf had attained full enlightenment. If he is closer to full enlightenment than I, then I am worldly trash.”

“Why didn’t you cast Medusa?” Zeke asked him again.

“Medusa? I cannot cast such a spell. I am worldly trash. Duma would never bestow Medusa upon trash such as I. I am trash, and I will die like trash. To prove to you how wordly of a person I am, Zeke, I will teach you one thing about life. Never attempt to cast away your love for a woman. Do not abandon in vain the love in front of you to chase your past. After I close my eyes and summon them, turn around. Tatiana and the Zofian Saint will both be behind you.” Those were Nuibaba’s final words before his chin fell. The proud Arcanist army general crumpled around Zeke’s lance like a piece of scrap cloth.

“Sir Zeke!” It was obvious who had called his name from behind him. 

Silque was standing next to him, but he cared not about what she might be thinking as he stared at her. He simply held Tatiana in his arms as tightly as he could.

-

Jerome’s soldiers had Nuibaba’s mansion surrounded. So this was indeed Jerome’s goal all along. If Nuibaba defeated the Newly Reborn Knights of Zofia, that would be ideal, but even if he did not, they were certain to be near death when Jerome appeared before them.

Zeke ordered Tatiana and Silque to heal the Knights, then took only his five Paladins with him to the mansion’s front gate, his gold armor glittering as he openly revealed himself and awaited Jerome’s arrival.

“Do any of you have any friends among his army?” Zeke asked his Paladins. 

All of them gave the same answer - that they felt nothing but hatred for every single one of Jerome’s knights.

But it mattered not that none could be swayed to his side. The Golden General Zeke was accompanied by his five fiercely loyal Paladins Rudolf himself had personally selected. Though they were no match in numbers, Jerome’s knights were already no match for them

-

“So there’s no such thing as Medusa.” Forsyth said as he lifted his wine glass. 

Rigel’s border guard had been defeated, and the Rigel Plains were now under Zofian occupation. It was a major accomplishment, one mostly achieved thanks to Zeke’s efforts, but the Knights were relieved that this battle was over all the same. The villagers had been awaiting their return with a huge banquet prepared just for them, and were now showering them with their kindness.

Once the Knights scaled the Dragon’s Maw, known as a natural stronghold characteristic of Rigel’s rugged landscape, Rigel Castle would be awaiting them right before their very eyes, and all they would have left to do is take Rudolf’s head. 

“We turned a fear that did not even exist into a taboo. Perhaps most, if not all, taboos are the same.” Forsyth said.

Python continued, “Medusa was nothing more than Nuibaba’s bluff, and a secret he could not share with even a single soul, or else he would lose all of his power. Maybe Jerome knew that, and used it to blackmail Nuibaba into helping him, knowing that he was still very powerful.”

“I do not think that to be the case.” Zeke said as he cut into the conversation. Zeke was a full-fledged Knight of Zofia now, or at the very least, a heroic general who had declared himself one of Alm’s knights, and vowed his loyalty to his new lord. “I did say very confidently that Nuibaba was unable to cast Medusa. But now I am convinced that he could, and chose not to cast it.”

“Why not?” It was no surprise that question was on everyone’s mind.

“I think he knew Emperor Rudolf’s master plan. Alm,” Zeke said, and shifted his conversation to speak directly to Alm. “Emperor Rudolf is planning to surrender his country over to you, so that you two can restore peace to Zofia and Rigel together. I think that is why he ordered me to serve you.”

‘That’s impossible.’ Was Silque’s immediate thought, but Alm spoke up faster.

“Then why did Rudolf try to destroy Zofia? We can never forget his wicked plot to abuse the sluice. He used it to attempt to destroy the entirety of Zofia’s land. Zeke, your idea is too optimistic.”

If Alm was right, then he had once again lost his reason to serve Alm. But regardless, the moment the Newly Reborn Knights of Zofia entered Rigel Castle, they would learn everything. ‘Rudolf will probably embrace Alm when they meet. It is enough for me to just serve Alm for now.’ Zeke thought, and spoke not another word.

As the conversation shifted from Nuibaba to the sluice, Delthea looked down at her feet as the color slowly drained from her face. Even as everyone continued to empty their glasses, the party could not become entirely carefree so long as they were worried about how she was feeling. Nuibaba had told her the one secret they were trying to keep from her, that she cast the spell that killed her brother.

“Cheer up, Delthea!” Clive said, and clapped a hand on her shoulder.

That was the trigger that made everything bottled up within her heart come spilling out.

“Please tell me the truth.” She said, starting out as a mumble that crescendoed with each word until she was nearly shrieking. “Was it me who killed my brother?! Did he die by my hand?! His body had scars on it that could only be caused by Aura. And I don’t remember anything that happened. I felt it, but I couldn’t believe it. Why did I kill my brother?!”

With each word that came out of her mouth, she felt more and more certain in her heart that she had done it. The more she became certain, the more she became aware of just how grave a sin she had committed, and the greater her grief became that he was gone. She started crying as hard as she would have bled if her tiny body was literally tearing apart.

No one could say anything. It would be meaningless to try to comfort her, because what could possibly comfort her? Nothing could bring her brother back. The only option left was to push her to accept the truth faster than she would on her own, but that was also the cruelest option of all.

“Delthea,” Alm stood up and hugged her. “You did not kill Luthier.” He said with full conviction. “The person who killed your brother was the Arcanist at the sluice. A Rigelian we have already killed. Please think of it this way. Even if the sun was to burn up or if rain were to wash away all the forests, nothing would make it any less tragic for those who share the same blood to kill each other. Please find your peace in the certainty that you would have never killed your brother.

“Nuibaba’s Medusa spell was not absolute hell. True hell is family killing one another. So long as Mila’s Blessing is bestowed upon Valentia, there should be no true hell in this world, and no members of the same family should be capable of killing each other.”

Delthea didn’t know what to think of Alm’s words, but they made Silque tremble in utter fear.

Alm was about to become the harbinger of this impossible, true hell he spoke of himself. The moment he cheered with joy that he had brought an end to everything, would also be the moment he killed his own father, realized his fate is to suffer in absolute hell, and learned that he himself would prove true hell had become possible in this world.

Silque could not hold back her tears. Everyone else thought that she was crying because she was so touched at Alm’s gesture to do whatever little he could to reach out and help Delthea.

-

The days before the Knights’ invasion of Rigel Castle passed by quietly. Delthea did not speak to anyone and was silent for a few days, until finally, she told Alm that she had decided to stay in the village and dedicate her life to rebuilding it. 

“You will grow up to become a godmother to all of Valentia.” He said, and hugged her tiny body as hard as he could. 

Silque went every day to see Tatiana, who returned to her hut in the village. Because Tatiana had decided not to participate in the final battle, Silque asked if she could teach her Physic, a high-level healing spell able to heal allies from afar; and Warp, a spell able to instantly teleport Units within the middle of an enemy’s formation. Part of the reason why the Knights decided to spend several long days stationed in the village was to give Silque the time she needed to master those spells.

Zeke was also always in Tatiana’s hut. To the two of them, these last few days before the Knights deployed was a fleeting moment of peace.

Sometimes, he would step out for a bit, and Tatiana would tell Silque stories of her memories with him.

“It was all part of the gods’ will for Sir Zeke to wash up in the village where I live, and for him to save me. I want to dedicate my entire body and soul to him.”

Silque immediately stared down at her feet. Hearing such a candid expression of love made her face turn bright red, proving that she was still a young woman who had yet to experience her own first romance.

“But, there is something that always worries me. And this worry may only deepen my love for him.” Tatiana said. “Sir Zeke lost all memories of his past, but he was probably a high-ranking vassal of another nation. As I nursed him back to health, he often cried out in agony. More times than I can count. But I remember the words he spoke very well. They were often an apology to a queen. Her name is Nyna…”

The moment she said that name, her face clouded over with sadness. “‘I am sorry, but I will not betray my homeland…’ He would say as he became drenched with sweat. When his memory returns, he will also return to his country. Sir Zeke is going to leave me on that day. I am certain of it.”

Silque held Tatiana’s hands to console her. 

Tatiana smiled, touched by Silque’s kindness. Then, she said, “I will stay in the village. As your army marches, even if Sir Zeke’s memories return to him, please do not tell me the truth. Allow me to believe that he left only because he fell out of love with me. Otherwise, I will not be able to completely give up on him.”

[kunosoura]

ASOIAF isn’t a series without problems and I’m usually willing to defend the decisions an adaptation has to make but GoT makes me so sad. Like even if I put the catastrophic final seasons that were so bad they killed my love of the books for a while out of mind, they just fundamentally failed to capture the tone of the books. Gritty realistic take on fantasy, sure, but still fantasy. A world with wonders and horrors teeming on the edges of the feudal society that the focus is on, caught in the shadow of a four centuries past Doom that in many ways the world is just beginning to reawaken from. Chivalry and nobility and honor and duty are lies masking self interest and cruelty, but they’re lies that people believe because they’re beautiful and you see echoes of the world that could be if they did exist. Game of Thrones just felt like Rome through the lens of a mud caked medieval Monty Python skit.

[a-heros-legacy-project]

book one, chapter six; home sweet home and with an unexpected snake

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pages 1 2.1 2.2 3 4 5 [info]

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Aileen spoke up , shifting to cover pheobe from view

》now that you two terrors are done talking, could you leave? Dinner is done now anyway, and I'm sure laertes is exhausted....《

I nodded weakly as the two gods walked away, leaving us alone. Asteria looked at me and smiled

》welp, I guess it's time for you too see the place you'll be staying for a while, hm?《

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Naturally, Asteria didn't tell me about the snake until I saw it.

My mind should have stayed on other things like the fact that Damien was a child of a god - a demigod, or the fact that gods were about to train us tomorrow or maybe the fact that Asteria was called owlette by deimos.

My mind could have also wandered to the way that she always seemed so nervous and shy whenever she was about to mention her heroic ancestor.

But my brain, and probably Odysseus, spared my those thoughts.

Where was i? Oh right. The snake.

》Uh.....Ari? I...I think some of these buildings have a minor reptile issue 《

I gestured to the hallway of the container building cabin >thing< that i now called home, where a giant, jet black, Blood Python was curled up.

She sighed exasperatedly and tried to move it gently with her foot.

》Oh for athenes' sake! Sorry Lee, -I can call you that, right? This snake keeps on finding a way in here! I swear I don't do anything to it, it's just!-《

She didn't look bothered or scared by the snake at all, she just looked annoyed that it had gotten into our hallway. She seemed quite used to snakes, and I briefly wondered why.

I gently picked the slithery reptile up and looked at it. It's opal scales contrasted stunningly with its liquid gold eyes.

》i don't mind.....honestly....this snake is really pretty...and non venomous...i kinda want to keep it? I mean...he is harmless afterall《

Her jaw dropped, then she stared at me, the snake again, then me again in disbelief.

》you....you actually want to keep the snake? Why??《

》dunno....but he's kinds cute, isn't he?《

The snake stared at me unnervingly (probably because it was anatomically impossible for it to blink).

Asteria stared at me as if I just grew a second head.

》so um.....what ya gonna call him then?《

I searched my mind for ideas. One time my mom told me about an aunt who named her snake "chicken" so I decided that this stunning boy should also have a rather harmless name.

》hm.....what about Charlie? Short for charcoal maybe?《

She looked at me, amused.

》well, ill ask chiron if he can get you a terrarium for him, but let's keep on going, yeah?《

Now, I already told you about the layout, or at least just briefly mentioned it a while back, but it was rather impressive.

Considering the fact that I didn't know if having a god in our camp meant more or less money, the place felt rather luxurious.

There was a bedroom with two bunk beds, a few drawers and a TV, a living room, fully decked out with a sound-surround system and some really soft couches, a kitchen and dining place that could fit at most 10 people, and a study space near the entrance, right by the window, streaming in sunlight.

Ari turned to me and smiled

》i decorated the place after my tastes, which is why all the walls are coloured a deep navy, but you can make requests at chiron office if you want to change anything. Well, after asking me of course《

I nodded, returning her smile before I heard a knocking sound at the main entrance She huffed as I opened the door, seemingly knowing who was at the door, and by the looks of it, she didn't necessarily want them here.

》Ah, there he is, the runt.《

Ares spoke up gruffly, looking at me with an amused scowl. Phobos and deimos snickered beside him, both of them holding spears.

》your training begins soon, little hero!~ we expect you to pick our a wepon shortly, alright? We'll personally guide you!《

And with that, phobos and deimos grabbed me by the shoulders, threw my nearly forgotten baggage carelessly in the room and handing ari hebes cage and dragged me to the weapons shed.

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@bast-the-best26 @the-eclipse-is-in-me

[deliverred]

[ BIRTHDAY GIFT but for Lukas ]

Lukas looks positively radiant in his ceremonial armor, flowers complimenting his feathery hair and the flowing military robes underneath. Even during the ball, even on his birthday, he represents his duty.

Forsyth approaches with purpose, one foot in front of the other. He is still visibly more worn than before the fall, but the smile on his face is true, slightly flushed by the punch he's set down on a nearby table.

"Lukas! Happy birthday, my dear friend." Forsyth engulfs him in a hug, which is slightly pointy and uncomfortable, but worth it. As he pulls back, he presents a box with a bow atop it, suspiciously book-shaped in nature. "I hope that this gift is a worthy one."

Many a moon ago, back in Zofia, Lukas had expressed interest in a series of books that Forsyth had on hand, one awash with brave knights and forbidden romance. He'd gladly loaned them, but the series' conclusion had yet to be published, and the author was hardly popular.

Now, how had Forsyth managed to get his hands on The Last of the Crusaders? No matter how strained their relationship could get, Forsyth's father is proud of him, and so happens to be a scholar of renown. For him to access a copy of the recently-released finale was a matter of a letter and waiting for the courier.

(And if he'd read it before giving it to Lukas, well, it's all the better to discuss together, is it not? The customized bookmark inside should help him keep his place, flowers pressed onto a cool red reminiscent of his hair.)

"I'm glad you've taken the time to attend this ball." Fondness tinges Forsyth's words and his gaze. He still feels the prickle of what was left unsaid before the monastery's collapse, but that all seems so insignificant now. They are here, and alive, and he must make the most of it. "You more than anyone deserve such rest and merriment, especially on the day of your birth. I am truly blessed to call you one of my closest friends."

While things were returning to some form of normalcy, both people and the lands they occupied would need time to truly recover. This was, to Lukas, no clearer than with his closest comrades. Between the end of the conflict and the start of recovery efforts, they'd not spoken as much as he might have liked, but he was not oblivious to Forsyth and Python's behavior.

Something had happened in the time that they had been separated during the conflict, and it was not something either of them had shared nor was it something easily moved on from.

And as Forsyth approaches him, he can see the wear and the tiredness that is something so rare to see on his dear friend's face. But they have not broached a great many things since the fall, and it is clear that it will continue to be so for this night of celebrations -- and Lukas will let it remain so for now. For all that his exuberance is not entirely at its usual levels, the smile on Forsyth's face is still real and Lukas returns the hug carefully on account of his armor.

"You remembered, thank you, Forsyth," the redhead smiles, keeping a hand gently resting on the other's arm as he accepts the gift. Obvious or not as to what it was, Lukas was deeply appreciative all the same; the few books he'd brought with him from Valentia had not survived the fall, so it would be nice to begin a collection anew with a gift from a friend.

"Any gift from you is one I will treasure."

Of course, as he uncovers the book inside the box, his smile becomes warm and nostalgic. He recalls them discussing this series, sometimes quite late into the night, and he had been rather interested in finishing it.

It had slipped his mind for some time now, but now he was sorely tempted to find a quiet spot to crack it open...

"You told such fantastic stories about it, how could I miss the chance?" Speaking of, this was supposed to be a dance, was it not? Setting his gift close by and within sight, Lukas bows before taking Forsyth by the hand, "Would you show me what you've learned in your time here, my friend?"

[izicodes]

Any tips on learning python? I already know Java, C++, and JavaScript.

Hiya! 💗

Since you already know those other languages, Python will be literally a piece of cake. It'll be easy for you, in my opinion.

Tips? I would say:

Start with the Basics: Begin by understanding the fundamental syntax and concepts of Python. After learning those, you can basically apply the languages you know logic into Python code and you'll be done. You can use online tutorials on YouTube or free online pdf books to get a good grasp of the basics.

Leverage Your Programming Experience:Like I mentioned Python shares similarities with many languages, so relate Python concepts to what you already know. For example, understand Python data types and structures in comparison to those in Java, C++, or JavaScript.

Projects and Practice:I sing this on my blog but practice is crucial. Start small projects or challenges to apply your Python knowledge. Depends what you want to build e.g. console apps, games, websites etc. Just build something small every so often!

Hope this helps! More tips I made: ask 1 | project ideas | random resources

⤷ ♡ my shop ○ my mini website ○ pinned ○ navigation ♡

[slightweasel]

Thanks to @smehur for tagging me! <3

3 ships I like: Harry/Draco, Loki/Sylvie, Loki/Bucky. Basically the last three ships I've had HUGE feelings for & wrote a lot about!

First ship: Vegeta/Bulma (DBZ) was my first ship ship, but I had mild ship feelings for Rachel/Tobias (Animorphs) which would have been much bigger feelings if I'd started the series a few years later.

Last song heard: "Broken" by Lifehouse

Fave childhood book: Where the Red Fern Grows! Though not the whole thing. I never, like, despised the ending, but I wasn't there for that: I liked the beginning & middle of the book, where the MC is saving up for his dogs, then training them & running around hunting at nights with them

Currently reading: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, because I've been reliably informed I need it to fully get everything in Sunrise on the Reaping. So far I like it way better than the movie, though it's a low bar since I didn't like that very much.

Currently watching: Rewatching Babylon 5. I'm on s5, which I may or may not actually finish, since I don't like it a quarter as much as previous seasons. I want to try The Pitt, but am not willing to pay Max subscription prices for it.

Currently consuming: Water

Currently craving: Spring. We had a few days of it, where did it go? :(

Pets: We have three dogs (a GSD, GSD mix, and a dachshund), two cats, two Senegal parrots, and two snakes (ball python & Mexican black kingsnake)

Not tagging anyone as I am under the weather & overthink tagging people even in the best of times. :P

[kharmii]

Tumblr is being a dick

ANYWAY

ReDestro dream and you're at blissful fault.

Haven't watched a bit of MHA but still.

I don't understand what this pithy message is getting at, but hey, let's talk Meta Liberation Army. What haven't I over analyzed yet? How about name meanings?

With Destro and ReDestro, I'd assumed those names were picked out because they sounded close to the word 'destroy' which would make them solid edgy villain names. Actually, 'destro' in Italian/Portugese means, "Right-handed, dexterous, skilled".

According to his wiki, Rikiya's surname is composed of the kanji for "four" (四ツ yotsu?) and "bridge" (橋 bashi?), and his first name contains "power" (力 riki?) and "to be" (也 ya?).

Horikoshi thought his crazy expressions were fun to draw, and he seems to be a mix of many Marvel Superheroes and villiains, such as The Joker, The Penguin, Green Goblin, The Hulk, Professor X.

From Wiki: Chitose's first name is composed of the kanji for "placement, deposit, leave behind" (置 chi?) and "year" (歳 tose?), and her last name contains "spirit, mind, heart" (気 ki?) and "moon" (月 dzuki?).

I plan on including her in future writings, especially since I'm planning on doing a backstory of other characters, so she'd still be alive in that timeline. My head canon is she starts out doing a talk show, and up-and-coming political figure Koku Hanabata will appear a few times. He's more of a celebrity than politician in reality. It's given that he will never win an election or be taken seriously, but he's an effective recruiter for the secret army.

From Skep's wiki: Tomoyasu's first name contains the kanji for "friend, companion" (友 tomo?) and "protect, guarantee, preserve" (保 yasu?), and his last name is composed of "near, close" (近 chika?) and "belong, genus, generic" (属 zoku?).

I thought this one was funny from the beginning, especially in the context of how I write Skep. He's that good friend who's always watching, always keeping you safe through the eyes of the camera. In future writing I may or may not do, Trumpet almost bolts early on, but Skeptic tells him to stay because he can guarantee his safety, and the Grand Commander likes him. He can't guarantee his safety if he leaves because it might be seen as a betrayal.

Image found on Ibispaint.com.

From Wiki: Geten's name translates to "apocrypha," a word that means "story of unknown author or origin" (外典 Geten?). In the Western world, apocrypha most often refers to books not canon to the Bible. IE: Book of Enoch most often referenced on conspiracy sites. In Japanese culture, it could also mean that Geten adheres more to principles of Confucianism while the other generals adhere to Buddist principles.

I've heard fans hate on the guy because he's an aggressive social Darwinist, whereas the others are supposed to be benevolent freedom fighters who strive day and night for quirk social justice, but.....wrongo. ReDestro snapped some innocent mouse assistant guy's neck for calling Meta Liberation War a book for fanatics. Trumpet did a whole spiel about how a weak meta like Spinner couldn't stand a chance against his army, and that Spinner, with his gecko quirk, would never be a valuable member of society.

Trumpet showing off his ability to give a rousing speech and also unhinge his jaw like a reticulated python so he could eat a foot long sub in one bite if wanted. Okay, I jest but.....

....from Wiki, Koku's first name contains the kanji for "cavity, hole, slit" (孔 ko?) and "body cavity" (腔 ku?), and his surname contains "flower" (花 hana?) and "field" (畑 bata?).

I've most often seen his name come up as "Cavity Flowergarden" during translations on Japanese sites. That sounds a lot less awkward than orifice or hole. I'm still bound and determined to call him 'Cunty' though. Fight me.

It's still in the plans to make him miserable in fan fiction. I once played around with the idea on LJ to make a Trumpet's Trauma Trifecta where I'd break an all-time record for length writing a tale of comedic suffering. It might be called Missus Yotsubashi (I'm not sure yet because I'm not going to commit to something until the outline gets started. Right now, I'm in the planning stage) where ReDestro is happily married, but his wife finds out about the boner he has for a certain politician and loyal general of the MLA. Awkward situations ensue.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.23

Holidays

Adria Asteroid Day

Armed Forces Day (Tajikistan)

Asian Corpsetwt Day [Every 23rd]

Bart Simpson Day

Curling Is Cool Day (Canada)

Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia)

Defender of the Fatherland Day and Armed Forces Day (Belarus)

Diesel Engine Day

Easy Divorce Day

Ember Day

Emily Blunt Day

Emperor Naruhito Day (Japan)

ENA Day

Freight Agent Appreciation Day

Give FFA Day

Gutenberg Bible Day

Homeland Defenders’ Day (Kyrgzstan)

Inconvenience Yourself Day

International Day of Action Against US & NATO Military Bases

International Day of Mercury Control Commitment

International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day

MAND Awareness Day

Mashramani (a.k.a. Mash Festival or Guyanese Republic Day; Guyana)

Meteni (Latvia)

Motherland Defenders’ Day (Russia, Transdniestria)

Mount Fuji Day (Japan)

National Aviation Day (Canada)

National Casbah Day (Algiers)

National Day (Brunei)

National Helplines Awareness Day (UK)

National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day

National Rationalization Day

National Tile Day

National Wear Blue for FFA

Pebbles Day

Pinocchio Day

Play Tennis Day

Printed Book Day

Quiet Day

Red Army Day (former USSR)

Shropshire Day (UK)

Single-Tasking Day

Student Press Freedom Day

Vaudeville Day

Vitamin Day

Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day

Women’s Day (Iceland)

Work Your Proper Hours Day [Varies]

World Peace and Understanding Day

World Rotary Day

World Turban Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Banana Bread Day

Imperial Stout Day

Jamaican Patty Day (Canada)

National Muffin Day

Tootsie Roll Day

Nature Celebrations

Billygoat Day (French Republic)

Prunus Day (Shy; Korean Birth Flowers)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Brunei Darussalam National Day (From UK; Borneo; 1984)

Evanland (Declared; 2016) [unrecognized]

February Revolution Day (Russia; 1917)

Mashramani (a.k.a. Republic Day: Proclamation of Co-Operative Republic; Guyana; 1970)

Mississippi Re-Admitted to the Union (1870)

Ondo State Day (Ondo, Nigeria)

Sayville (a.k.a. Dominion of Sayville; Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Texas (Seceded from the U.S.; 1861)

4th & Last Sunday in February

College Goal Sunday [Last Sunday]

Freedom Sunday [Last Sunday]

National Woman’s Day (original date; 1909) [Last Sunday]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Soothing Sunday [4th Sunday of Each Month]

Spud Sunday [4th Sunday of Each Month]

Souper Sunday [Last Sunday of Each Month]

Sultry Sunday [Last Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning February 23 (4th Week of February)

National Harbor Restaurant Week: Fooduary (National Harbor, Maryland) [thru 3.1]

Peace Corps Week (thru 2.27)

Festivals On or Beginning February 23, 2025

International Sweetener Colloquium (Palm Springs, California) [thru 2.26]

Krewe Carrollton Parade (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Mystic Krewe of Barkus Parade (New Orleans, Louisiana)

National Brotherhood of Snowsports Summit (Keystone, Colorado) [thru 3.2]

National Grocers Association Show (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 2.25]

San Pedro Carnival (San Pedro, Belize) [thru 3.4]

Screen Actors Guild Awards (Los Angeles, California)

Tampa Bay Jewish Food Festival (Clearwater, Florida)

World of the Latino Cuisine (Las Vegas, Nevada) [thru 2.25]

Feast Days

Alexander Akimetes (Christian; Saint)

Boisil, Prior of Melross (Christian; Saint)

Celebrate Vaccines Day (Pastafarian)

Day of Ebisu (Japanese God of Fortune)

Dositheus, Monk of Palestine (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Friends (Pagan)

Festival of the Boundary Markers (Ancient Rome)

Herb Garden Planting Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Lola and Tamir (Muppetism)

Milburga of Shropshire (Christian; Saint)

Monty Python Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Ovid (Positivist; Saint)

Peter Damian (Christian; Saint)

Polycarp of Smyrna (Christian; Saint)

Remember the Alamo Day (Pastafarian)

Serenus the Gardener (Christian; Martyr)

The Terminalia (Festival of Boundaries; also End of Old Roman Year Festival)

Willigis (Christian; Saint)

Orthodox Christian Liturgical Calendar Holidays

Shrove Sunday (Orthodox Christian) (a.k.a. ... 

Cheese Fare Sunday

Judgement Sunday

Meatfare Sunday

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 1 (Wu-Yin), Day 26 (Gui-Hai)

Day Pillar: Water Pig

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Receive Day (收 Shou) [Inauspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Emily Blunt (Entertainment)

Bernard Cornwell (Literature)

W.E.B. DuBois (Literature)

Victor Fleming (Entertainment)

Balthazar Gerbier (Art)

Rebecca Goldstein (Philosophy)

George Frederick Handel (Music)

Howard Jones (Music)

Kelly MacDonald (Entertainment)

Kazimir Malevich (Art)

Hendrik Willem Mesdag (Art)

Samuel Pepys (Literature)

Norman Taurog (Entertainment)

Franz von Stuck (Art)

George Frederic Watts (Art)

Tom Wesselmann (Art)

Guy C. Wiggins (Art)

Johnny Winter (Music)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [13 of 57]

Premieres

All’s Well That Ends Well (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Annihilation (Film; 2018)

Apple & Onion (Animated TV Series; 2018)

The Band Concert (Mickey Mouse Disney Cartoon; 1935)

Bend Sinister, by Vladimir Nabokov (Novel; 1947)

Caviar (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

DC Showcase: The Spectre (WB Cartoon; 2010)

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, by Tom Robbins (Novel; 1976)

The Fable of Farmer Al Alfa’s Bride (Aesop’s Film Fable; 1923)

The Faithful Maid, by George Frideric Handel (Song; 1715)

FanMail, by TLC (Album; 1999)

The Farmer (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1931)

Fireman Save My Child (Mutt & Jeff Cartoon; 1919)

Foxy by Proxy (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

Game Night (Film; 2018)

The Glutton (Hearst-Pathe News Cartoon; 1918)

Go Fly a Kit (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

Goode Knight (Aesop’s Fable Cartoon; 1934)

The Hare and the Hounds (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Harper (Film; 1966)

Henderson the Rain King, by Saul Bellow (Novel; 1959)

He’s SO fine, by The Chiffons (Song; 1963)

Holiday for Shoestrings (WB MM Cartoon; 1946)

Interjections (Grammar Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1974)

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (WB Animated Film; 2010)

Ko-Ko’s Reward (Fleischer Inkwell Imps Cartoon; 1929)

Land of Black Gold, by Hergé (Graphic Novel; 1950) [Tintin #15]

Last Bus to Woodstock, by Colin Dexter (Novel; 1975)

The Last Straw (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

Les Sylphides, by Frédéric Chopin (Ballet; 1907)

Little Lulu, by Marjorie Henderson Buell (Comic strip; 1935)

Man of Tin (Scrappy Phantasies Cartoon; 1940)

Midnight at the Oasis, by Maria Muldaur (Song; 1974)

Oratorio, by George Frideric Handel (Oratorio; 1732)

Piano Man, by Billy Joel (Song; 1974)

Pinocchio (Animated Disney Film; 1940)

Public Speaking (Documentary Film; 2011)

The Saint in Miami, by Leslie Charteris (Novel; 1940) [Saint #23]

Scenes from a Mall (Film; 1991)

Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoop (WB Animated Film; 2021)

The Slim Shady LP, by Eminem (Album; 1999)

Standard Parade for 1939 (Disney Cartoon for Standard Oil Co.; 1939)

Swiss Tease (Columbia Favorites; 1956)

Things Fall Apart, by The Roots (Album; 1999)

This Land Is Your Land, written by Woody Guthrie (Song; 1940)

Trainspotting (Film; 1996)

Tweety and the Beanstalk (WB MM Cartoon; 1957)

University of North Dakota (School; 1882)

Today’s Name Days

Raffaela, Romana (Austria)

Grozdan, Polikarp, Romana (Croatia)

Svatopluk (Czech Republic)

Papias (Denmark)

Lehar, Leho, Lehto (Estonia)

Aslak (Finland)

Lazare (France)

Polyk, Raffaela, Romana (Germany)

Polychronis, Polykarpos (Greece)

Alfréd (Hungary)

Livio, Policarpo, Renzo, Romana, Romina, Sereno, Teo (Italy)

Almants, Haralds (Latvia)

Butvilė, Gantautas, Romana, Severinas (Lithuania)

Torstein, Torunn (Norway)

Bądzimir, Damian, Florentyn, Łazarz, Piotr, Roma, Romana, Seweryn (Poland)

Policarp (Romania)

Anna, Valentina (Russia)

Roman (Slovakia)

Policarpo (Spain)

Torsten, Torun (Sweden)

Boswell, Gloria, Gloriana, Glory, Reilley, Riley, Rylan, Rylee, Ryleigh, Ryley, Rylie (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Rudy Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 54 of 2025; 311 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 7 of Week 8 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 26 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Wu-Yin), Day 26 (Gui-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 16 Amshir 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Pine (Feb 19-28) [Day 5 of 10]

Hebrew: 25 Shevat 5785

Islamic: 24 Sha’ban 1446

Julian: 10 February 2025

Moon: 23%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 26 Homer (2nd Month) [Ovid)

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 65 of 90)

SUn Calendar: 24 Gray; Threesday [24 of 30]

Week: 4th Week of February

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 5 of 30)

Sidereal Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 11 of 30)

Schmidt Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 2 of 27)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 7 of 23)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Aquarius (Day 8 of 24)

[four-loose-screws]

FE2 Novelization Translation - Book 2 Chapter 3 Part 3

If you would like to start from the beginning, read a missed part, etc., click here!

FE Game Script Translations - FE Novel Translations - Original FE Support Conversations

If you are interested in donating to support my work, please check out my Ko-fi here. Thank you!

———————————

Chapter 3 - War Father Duma

Part 3 - The Dragon’s Maw, Mount Dragonsblight

Duma’s teachings were not the sole reason as to why Rigel was an empire of knights, built with war and battle as its backbone. For a country to establish itself as a country, the people must also consider its natural environment. To the Rigelians, the emperor’s castle was Rigel, and Rigel was the emperor’s castle. To protect it, they utilized not only man-made structures, but the land itself - specifically, the mountains that made up the mountain range cutting off the castle from the world below, the rugged landscape surrounding the castle, and most of all, the natural fortress standing in the way of the one path to the castle - The Dragon’s Maw, considered to be hell on earth. 

Though of course, it is only hell on earth to those who dare attempt to attack the castle. 

The suffocating plumes of sulfur smoke and unbearable heat that saps away at one’s energy only assault those who approach the castle with intent to harm it. In exchange for their vows of loyalty, the knights that travel to and from the castle, are granted safe passage up and down The Dragon’s Maw.

And the best path to take changes day to day. The best route one day may be the most dangerous the next. If a knight of Rigel shows even a hint of intent to betray their country, then such daily changes in the mountain’s behavior will quickly kill them.

The Newly Reborn Knights of Zofia’s newest recruit, the loyal and brave General Zeke, as a loyal vassal of Emperor Rudolf, of course knew several paths through The Dragon’s Maw. He led them to the newest path he’d received reports about and was overjoyed when he realized it was safe for them.

“I knew it! Emperor Rudolf is leading Alm to the castle. The fact that the safest path is not changing is proof of that.” Such was Zeke’s logic.

It was a steep and narrow path, but continued to remain safe as they traveled down it. From where they were now, the waterfall in the distance was so hazy it looked like several white, unraveling threads. For the Knights of Rigel, it was the landmark that reassured them they would finally make it back to the castle. If they could see it as well, Zeke’s five Paladins would have also felt their hearts race with excitement, but they were waiting with Delthea and Tatiana at the village for the Knights of Zofia’s return.

Zeke turned around and said, “We’re almost there!” to speed them up. 

The rock beneath Alm’s feet crumbled and tumbled down the mountain, perhaps as a bad omen of what was to come. The first among them to notice the eerie presence nearby was Clair’s falcon, walking alongside everyone with her wings folded up because she couldn’t fly through the sulfur smoke. She shook her nose as if she was about to sneeze, and pulled on her reins in Clair’s hands.

When Clair whirled around to pat her head and tell her to keep quiet, at first, she couldn’t believe what she saw. It looked like a dark cloud of sulfur smoke hanging over their head, but upon closer inspection, it was clearly in the shape of a dragon.

“Necrodragon!” Silque shrieked. 

She was the only person amongst them who knew what a Necrodragon was, but even she had never seen one with her own eyes before. Even Zeke was learning for the first time exactly why this mountain was called The Dragon’s Maw.

As they had never fought this kind of Terror before, Alm first shifted into a defensive stance. Tobin and Python immediately shot at it with their crossbows, but their attacks proved useless as their arrows flew straight through the Necrodragon’s body and whizzed across the sky.

“I’ll fly up to it!” Clair said, but the sulfur smoke above them would not allow her to. 

Alm did not sense any sign from the Necrodragon that it was looking for a fight. ‘Maybe it’ll let us pass it by.’ He thought.

Zeke seemed to have the same idea as well, as he was trying to hide his presence as much as possible.

And they were right. The Necrodragon did not show any interest in attacking them. However, they realized just a moment later that their troubles were far from over.

They were about to wish that the Necrodragon had attacked them. Only having to defeat a Necrodragon would have been the best case scenario. 

As the Necrodragon suddenly stretched its wings and flew towards them, the mountain shook violently, then the cliff above them crumbled into boulders that fell and blocked their path forward.

Since they were determined not to retreat, they thought that the Necrodragon was finally attacking them. However, as it turned around on its wings, more boulders fell to block their path back down the mountain, then it flew away.

At first, everyone was so shocked that they all froze.

“You think you can scare me?!”  Python said with so much venom it was as if he was chanting a curse.

Deep down, though, he was immediately hit with the same feeling of true fear that everyone else was. Not even a Necrodragon could possibly invoke such an emotion.

Their path up the mountain was blocked. Their path down the mountain was blocked. They thought briefly that maybe they could scale the boulders, but quickly realized just how naive they were to even consider it.

Once they started to climb, they would immediately be assaulted by the rising plumes of sulfur. If they tried to travel down the cliff they were standing on, they would fall into an entire sea of sulfur. Only this one path was a safe tunnel through the smoke. No matter which direction they went in, they would meet the same fate. There was nowhere for them to go.

Zeke fell to his knees and screamed, “How could this happen?!”

‘Is Emperor Rudolf not actually allowing Alm to enter the castle? Did he never intend to invite him at all? Or is he trying to kill me alongside Alm…?’

To prove that things could get even worse, the wall of smoke was closing in on them. Taking in even a single breath of it would immediately fill their lungs with sulfur. And with the path they thought was safe blocked off, the temperature of the geothermal heat around them was starting to rise to a dangerous high.

As sulfur filled their throats and the heat sapped the water out of their bodies, first Gray collapsed, then Clive, Mathilda, and Python. Silque swiftly cast Physic on them, but they were so weak and she was so weak that she couldn’t keep up.

Perhaps this was certain proof that Nomah’s sudden realization in Halycon’s forest about this war was right - that Mila and Duma really were trying to destroy everything and start over.

Even Alm would be no exception to the hell on earth that was The Dragon’s Maw to those who tried to attack Rigel Castle. The Knights of Zofia would meet their untimely end here.